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Scalar Diversity, Negative Strengthening, and Adjectival Semantics
[journal article]
Abstract Previous research has demonstrated great variability in the rates of scalar inferences across different triggers (Doran et al., 2009; van Tiel et al., 2016). In the current study, we show that variation is more systematic than previously thought. In particular, we present experimental evidence sugge... view more
Previous research has demonstrated great variability in the rates of scalar inferences across different triggers (Doran et al., 2009; van Tiel et al., 2016). In the current study, we show that variation is more systematic than previously thought. In particular, we present experimental evidence suggesting that endorsements of scalar implicatures (i) are anti-correlated with the degree of negative strengthening of the stronger scale-mate (e.g., whether John is not stunning is interpreted as conveying that John is rather ugly) and (ii) are affected by the scale structure and the underlying scalar semantics of gradable adjectives (in particular boundedness, polarity, and adjectival extremeness). Overall, our research suggests that scale structure should be taken into account in theories of implicature.... view less
Classification
Science of Literature, Linguistics
Free Keywords
scalar implicature; scalar diversity; scale structure; gradable adjectives; negative strengthening; negation
Document language
English
Publication Year
2018
Journal
Frontiers in Psychology, 9 (2018)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01659
ISSN
1664-1078
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0
FundingThe publication was supported by the Leibniz Association's Open Access Publishing Fund for articles in open access journals.