A Single-Type Semantics for the PTQ*-Fragment

Liefke, Kristina (September 2013): A Single-Type Semantics for the PTQ*-Fragment. Sinn und Bedeutung 18, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque, September 11-13. Etxeberria, Urtzi; Fălăuș, Anamaria; Irurtzun, Aritz and Leferman, Bryan (eds.) : In: Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung 18, pp. 253-270

Abstract

In (Montague, 1970), Montague defines a formal theory of linguistic meaning which interprets a small fragment of English through the use of two basic types of objects: individuals and propositions. In this paper, I develop a comparable semantics which only uses one basic type of object (hence, single-type semantics). Such a semantics has been suggested by Partee (2009) as a ‘minimality test’ for the Montagovian type system, which challenges the need for a bi-partitioned ontology. The proposed semantics captures the propositional interpretation of proper names, unifies Montague’s semantic ontology, and yields insight into the apparatus of types in formal semantics.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
• Form of publication: Postprint
• Keywords: foundations of formal semantics, natural language metaphysics, single-type hypothesis, type theory, unification
• Faculties: Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Science > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP); Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Science > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) > Logic; Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Religious Science > Munich Center for Mathematical Philosophy (MCMP) > Metaphysics and Philosophy of Language
• Subjects: 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 100 Philosophy; 100 Philosophy and Psychology > 160 Logic
• Language: English