Negated definite conjunction and its implicatures

Abstract

Two different readings are possible in English when a conjunction of definite objects is negated. It is argued in the present paper that different sets of alternatives are active in the two cases, but that this is only possible with the right interplay of the preceding context and the intonation contour of the sentence. Both readings result from exhaustification. However, the number of applications of the EXH operator is different in the two cases.  This fosters discussion about the constitution of alternative sets, the exact role of focus, as well as triggers for (re-)exhaustification.