Open AccessInstrumental with and use: modality and implicature
Author(s) -
Lilia Rissman
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
proceedings from semantics and linguistic theory
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2163-5951
pISSN - 2163-5943
DOI - 10.3765/salt.v21i0.2603
Subject(s) - variety (cybernetics) , implicature , modality (human–computer interaction) , modal , thematic analysis , reading (process) , computer science , thematic map , linguistics , modal verb , psychology , cognitive psychology , artificial intelligence , sociology , pragmatics , philosophy , qualitative research , social science , geography , chemistry , polymer chemistry , verb , cartography
I present an analysis of the instrumental elements with and use, as in Betty cut the cake with a knife. A variety of evidence indicates that with and use do not make the same semantic contribution, casting doubt on the theory that these elements introduce the thematic role Instrument. For use, I adopt the analysis in Rissman (to appear): use expresses modal, goal-related content. For with, a modal reading may be implicated but is not entailed, explaining a variety of contrasts between with and use. The implications of this analysis for a theory of thematic roles is discussed.