Open AccessThree Readings of Most
Author(s) -
Hadas Kotek,
Yuichi Sudo,
Edwin Howard,
Martin Hackl
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
proceedings from semantics and linguistic theory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2163-5951
pISSN - 2163-5943
DOI - 10.3765/salt.v0i0.2621
Subject(s) - superlative , covert , reading (process) , partition (number theory) , subject (documents) , operator (biology) , focus (optics) , computer science , position (finance) , mathematics , linguistics , combinatorics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , physics , finance , repressor , library science , transcription factor , optics , economics , gene
In this paper we show that most DPs in subject position can receive three kinds of truth-condition, yielding a proportional reading, a ‘regular’ superlative reading and a ‘partition-based’ superlative reading. We propose an analysis of the three readings that views them as resulting from the interaction of several components, including (a generalized version of) the superlative operator -est, covert and overt movement, and focus. Furthermore, we explain how movement affects the distribution of readings of most.