TY - JOUR AU - Bassi, Itai AU - Bar-Lev, Moshe E. PY - 2019/05/13 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - A unified existential semantics for bare conditionals JF - Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung JA - SuB VL - 21 IS - 1 SE - Articles DO - UR - https://ojs.ub.uni-konstanz.de/sub/index.php/sub/article/view/128 SP - 125-142 AB - <p>Bare conditionals show an unexpected quantificational variability contingent on whether they are embedded in an Upward Entailing context (universal import) or a Downward Entailing context (existential import). Contra Herburger (2015a, b)’s ambiguity theory, we argue in favor of a unified semantics for bare conditionals based on their behavior in VP ellipsis constructions and in non-monotonic contexts. We show that a similar pattern exists with Free Choice phenomena, and consequently suggest a parallel analysis to Fox (2007)’s treatment of such phenomena. We propose that bare conditionals have a basic existential semantics which is obligatorily strengthened into a universal meaning in UE contexts, while being preserved in DE contexts. Our claim that bare conditionals are underlyingly existential is further supported by Conditional Perfection data with bare and non-bare conditionals.</p> ER -