Hyperintensional Dynamic Semantics - Analyzing Definiteness with Enriched Contexts

Scott Martin, Carl Pollard

Abstract: We present a dynamic semantic theory formalized in higher order logic that synthesizes aspects of de Groote’s continuation-based dynamics and Pollard’s hyperintensional semantics. In this theory, we rely on an enriched notion of discourse context inspired by the work of Heim and Roberts. We show how to use this enriched context to improve on de Groote’s treatment of English definite anaphora by modeling it as presupposition fulfillment.