Constructive Analysis of Intensional Phenomena in Natural Language

Chierchia [2, 3, 4], pointed out the inadequacy of Montague’s approach in the analysis of certain natural language constructions, such as nominalization and propositional attitude reports. The problem seems to be related to the strong typing of Montague’s Intensional Logic, and its interpretation of propositions as sets of possible worlds. Turner in [9], following Bealer’s intuitions [1], offers an interesting solution by building an intensional logic in which the intension of propositions and propositional functions are treated as individuals of a different kind, Turner’s framework is called property theory. For a classic approach to intensionality see [5, 6]. In this paper, we show that is possible to recast Turner’s proposals in the constructive type theory providing a simple analysis of intentionality and an elegant solution to the puzzle sentences.