Lecture 18: Semantics, Part 2

TL;DR

The ambiguity in sentences with multiple qualifiers arises from the option of applying the quantifier operations in different orders, with the option of Quantifier Raising (QR) being a key factor.

Transcript

NORVIN RICHARDS: So we have already talked for a while about various kinds of ambiguity. And today, we're going to talk about ambiguity more. This is, if anything, the best time to talk about ambiguity because we're now actually into semantics. The kinds of ambiguity we were talking about before were kinds of what's sometimes called structural ambi... Read More

Key Insights

• 💱 The ambiguity in sentences with multiple qualifiers arises from the possibility of Quantifier Raising (QR), which can change the meaning of the sentence.
• 🛀 The order of the quantifiers in a sentence is not optional, as evidence shows that the interpretation of quantifiers is fixed by their structure.
• ❓ QR is clause-bound and can only occur within a clause.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do sentences with multiple qualifiers have ambiguity?

Sentences with multiple qualifiers have ambiguity because there is an option to perform the quantifier operations in different orders, which can change the meaning of the sentence.

Q: Is the order of the quantifiers in a sentence with multiple qualifiers optional?

No, the order of the quantifiers is not optional, as evidence suggests that the interpretation of quantifiers is restricted by their position in the sentence.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ambiguity in sentences with multiple qualifiers is due to the option of performing the quantifier operations in different orders.

• QR is an optional operation that can move one quantifier past another, changing the meaning of the sentence.

• Evidence from Hungarian and other languages supports the idea of QR and its restrictions.