Constraining alternatives

Abstract

The focus operator only asserts that alternatives to its prejacent are false. But, what alternatives does only exclude? There must be constraints on alternatives. Fox and Katzir (2011) propose that alternatives are formed in the syntax, and are constrained by grammar such that they cannot be structurally more complex than the prejacent. We argue that this constraint is too restrictive. We take a new look at complex alternatives, and conclude that they can be attested, with their distribution regulated pragmatically by the Question Under Discussion (after Roberts 1996/2012, Beaver & Clark 2008, Katzir 2023).