Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics (한국영어학회지:영어학)
- Volume 1 Issue 1
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- Pages.81-100
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- 2001
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- 1598-1398(pISSN)
An Ambiguity View of Specificity
Abstract
In this paper I review previous analyses of specific indefinites, and propose a new analysis. The main claim is that a specific indefinite presupposes that an agent, a speaker in general, has in mind an individual which satisfies the descriptive content. I provide evidence for the ambiguity view of specificity. First, I show that a specific indefinite triggers a pre- supposition. Second, I show that a specific indefinite is a strong quantifier while a nonspecific is a weak one. Finally, I discuss different behaviors of specific and nonspecific indefinites in anaphora.
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