Bare Nominals and Optimal Inference

Authors

  • Ariel Cohen

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18148/sub/2006.v10i1.675

Abstract

In this paper I discuss four type of bare nominal, and note that, in some sense, all of them appear to imply stereotypicality. I consider an account in terms of Bidirectional Optimality Theory: unmarked (bare) forms give rise to unmarked (stereotypical) interpretations. However, it turns out that, while the form of bare numerals is unmarked, the interpretation sometimes is not. I suggest that the crucial notion is not unmarkedness, but optimal inference: unmarked forms give rise  to interpretations that are best used for drawing inferences. I propose a revision of Bidirectional Optimality Theory to reflect this.

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Published

2019-08-15

How to Cite

Cohen, A. (2019). Bare Nominals and Optimal Inference. Proceedings of Sinn Und Bedeutung, 10(1), 71–84. https://doi.org/10.18148/sub/2006.v10i1.675