Discourse consistency and dynamic modals in commitment space semantics

Abstract

This paper examines puzzles surrounding epistemic contradiction as well as cases known as “standoff.” To resolve these puzzles, I incorporate Veltman’s (1996) test conception of epistemic modals into Krifka’s (2021) commitment space semantics. The resulting framework is a two-pronged update semantics in which an epistemic possibility claim ♢'p' carries the discourse effect of delimiting future developments of the discourse to those states where 'p' remains as an open possibility.