Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms
There is a great deal of discussion in the specialized literature around the meaning and interpretation of the so-called number terms. It has been established that these terms can denote sets of exact cardinalities, as well as sets compatible with “at least” and “at most” cardinalities (intervalar r...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidad del Valle
2022-01-01
|
| Series: | Lenguaje |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://revistalenguaje.univalle.edu.co/index.php/lenguaje/article/view/11010 |
| _version_ | 1811161175147151360 |
|---|---|
| author | Gala Villaseñor Ittay Gil Carrillo |
| author_facet | Gala Villaseñor Ittay Gil Carrillo |
| author_sort | Gala Villaseñor |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | There is a great deal of discussion in the specialized literature around the meaning and interpretation of the so-called number terms. It has been established that these terms can denote sets of exact cardinalities, as well as sets compatible with “at least” and “at most” cardinalities (intervalar readings). We present evidence from an experimental study showing that exact readings of number terms under certain grammatical constructions (with a quantifier or predicative function as well as when preceded by a definite article) are preferred by speakers even under certain pragmatic contexts in which intervalar readings could be derived. Our results align with the so-called naïve perspective of the exact semantics of number terms, but also with the fact that both the grammatical structure as well as the pragmatic context play an important role in the interpretations that they can acquire (exactly, at least, at most). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:10:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f38daf0c1d624d579c0df5c0ac5935db |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0120-3479 2539-3804 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T06:10:11Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | Universidad del Valle |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Lenguaje |
| spelling | doaj.art-f38daf0c1d624d579c0df5c0ac5935db2023-03-02T20:55:02ZengUniversidad del ValleLenguaje0120-34792539-38042022-01-015019311410.25100/lenguaje.v50i1.1101016513Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number termsGala Villaseñor0Ittay Gil Carrillo1Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoUniversidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoThere is a great deal of discussion in the specialized literature around the meaning and interpretation of the so-called number terms. It has been established that these terms can denote sets of exact cardinalities, as well as sets compatible with “at least” and “at most” cardinalities (intervalar readings). We present evidence from an experimental study showing that exact readings of number terms under certain grammatical constructions (with a quantifier or predicative function as well as when preceded by a definite article) are preferred by speakers even under certain pragmatic contexts in which intervalar readings could be derived. Our results align with the so-called naïve perspective of the exact semantics of number terms, but also with the fact that both the grammatical structure as well as the pragmatic context play an important role in the interpretations that they can acquire (exactly, at least, at most).https://revistalenguaje.univalle.edu.co/index.php/lenguaje/article/view/11010numeralspredicates and quantifiersexact/intervalar interpretationsexperimental study |
| spellingShingle | Gala Villaseñor Ittay Gil Carrillo Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms Lenguaje numerals predicates and quantifiers exact/intervalar interpretations experimental study |
| title | Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms |
| title_full | Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms |
| title_fullStr | Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms |
| title_short | Pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms |
| title_sort | pragmatic and grammatical factors affecting the interpretation of number terms |
| topic | numerals predicates and quantifiers exact/intervalar interpretations experimental study |
| url | https://revistalenguaje.univalle.edu.co/index.php/lenguaje/article/view/11010 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT galavillasenor pragmaticandgrammaticalfactorsaffectingtheinterpretationofnumberterms AT ittaygilcarrillo pragmaticandgrammaticalfactorsaffectingtheinterpretationofnumberterms |