In this paper, we study Verb-phrase Ellipsis (VPE) and show its relationship to presupposition and its failure. In doing so, we use a novel representation of VPE by means of a dynamic semantics approach, using an extended version of Dynamic Predicate Logic which includes procedures, scope rules and functions. We focus on the representation of the strict/sloppy ambiguity in connection with ellip...

This paper looks at presuppositions of adpositions, a topic which has not been examined much, in spite of the very large body of work on presuppositions. Some earlier assertions about adpositional presuppositions turn out not to be relevant, because (1) they are incorrect (2) presuppose and/or presupposition are not used in a technical sense in them, or (3) the presuppositions involved are not ...

In this paper we present a three-dimensional architecture for the interpretation of a fragment of natural language which combines insights from presupposition theory, dynamic interpretation and the theory of generalized quantifiers. The semantics is shown to be a proper extension of a classical one, and to enable a flexible treatment of presupposition resolution along the lines of, in particula...

The literature investigating the notion of presupposition in Discourse Representation Theory (DRT) has mainly been dubbed as being semantic (Simons 2003). This paper investigates the linguistic application of pragmatic-based constraints to the ‘semantic’ notion of presupposition in DRT. By applying pragmatic-based constraints to presuppositional phenomenon, we aim to defend DRT against the accu...

At any stage in a well-run conversation, a certain amount is presupposed. The parties to the conversation take it for granted; or at least they purport to, whether sincerely or just “for the sake of the argument”. Presuppositions can be created or destroyed in the course of a conversation. This change is rule-governed, at least up to a point. The presuppositions at time r’ depend, in a way abou...

A note on this draft I’m allowed 10,000 words and definitely won’t be given more than this draft’s ≈14K. I find this an awkward length for such a huge topic — too long for a quick high-level overview, too short for an in-depth investigation. My response was to try to touch on all the major themes. I’d thus be extremely grateful for information about topics and references that I missed on the cu...

We discuss a treatment of VP-ellipsis resolution in DRT in general, and particularly cases where the source clause of the elliptical VP contains pre-supposition triggers. We propose to restrain VP-ellipsis resolution by pre-supposition neutralization. We view presupposition as a kind of anaphora, with the ability to accommodate an antecedent if not provided by discourse.

The Context Change Potential Model of presuppositions, due to Heim, Kartunnen and Stalnaker, is examined in the light of recent work in dynamic semantics. It is shown that some phenomena concerning the interaction of presupposition and quantification, which had been thought troublesome for the Context Change Model, can be handled without invoking local or intermediate accommodation. A model of ...

Some theories (e.g., Beaver, 1994, 2001) assume that sentences with presupposition triggers in the scope of a quantifier carry an existential presupposition, as in (2), others (e.g., Heim, 1983 or Schlenker, 2008a,b) assume that they carry a universal presupposition, as in (3). (1) No student knows that he is lucky. (2) Existential presupposition: At least one student is lucky. (3) Universal pr...