Structure matters: missing implicatures and their consequence for the theory of alternatives
Keywords: alternatives, temporariness implicatures, syntax-pragmatics interface, structural alternatives, focus theory
TL;DR: We provide a novel case of implicatures disappearing when syntax independently rules out the alternatives required to generate them, arguing that our data lends support to a structural theory of alternatives.
Abstract: We use the domain of English aspect marking to probe for the correct algorithm of alternative generation, providing a novel pattern of implicatures appearing only selectively best explained by assuming syntax can constrain the generation of alternatives. We thus illustrate that structure matters in the generation of alternatives, which should not be derived by manipulating semantic objects alone.
Submission Number: 213
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