The anchor of a modal superlative and the individual vs stage level reading of the adjective
Tovena, Lucia M. (Université Paris Cité (França))
Fleury, Damien (Université Paris Cité (França))

Data:	2024
Resum:	This paper is about the semantics of quality modal superlatives in predicative function, e. g. Italian È stata il più calma possibile ('She was the calmest possible'), with a focus on what is the anchoring of the modal superlative, and how what is being compared is restricted. The limitations of single-anchoring in individuals when analysing modal superlatives, following the strategy generally adopted for ordinary absolute and relative superlatives, are highlighted. The alternative of using a comparison class made of world+individual pairs grouped into equivalence classes defined through the amount of the gradable property (Tovena & Fleury 2023), proves a better solution. New data on the stage-level vs. individual-level reading of the gradable adjective provide evidence supporting this form of anchoring. The stage-level reading, although predominant, is not the manifestation of the invariance of the individual being compared. Some stage-level interpretations favour selecting a plurality of individuals for comparison, with the difference that this plurality is determined across possible worlds, not in the actual world, in contrast to ordinary superlatives.
Drets:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Llengua:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Matèria:	Modal superlatives ; Stage level vs individual level ; Comparison class ; Semantics ; Pragmatics
Publicat a:	Isogloss, Vol. 10 Núm. 7 (2024) , p. 1-29 (Articles) , ISSN 2385-4138

Adreça original: https://revistes.uab.cat/isogloss/article/view/v10-n7-tovena-fleury
DOI: 10.5565/rev/isogloss.424

29 p, 399.2 KB

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