Invited talk by Yael Sharvit (UCLA)
Please note this event occurred in the past.
November 03, 2025 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm ET
N400
Disjunctive antecedents, accommodation and type-flexibility
Abstract
Examples (1a) and (1b) are equivalent. One of their readings presupposes (2) and asserts (3). In view of these facts, we defend (A)-(B).
(1)a. If Mia is penniless or proud of her money, then Sue is.
b. If Mia is proud of her money or penniless, then Sue is.
(2) If Mia has money, then the presuppositions of 'if Mia is proud of her money, Sue is proud of her money' are true.
(3) If Mia is penniless, Sue is penniless, and
if Mia has money and is proud of Mia's money, Sue is proud of Sue's money.
(A) 'or' is lexically symmetric (as in Karttunen & Peters 1979, and contra accommodation-based theories).
(B) 'if' is type-flexible (as in Rooth & Partee 1982).