scholarly journals Bare singular and bare mass nouns in Brazilian Portuguese: First results of an empirical survey

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 75 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Vinicius de A. Braga ◽  
Laiza de Sena ◽  
Ruan Mariano ◽  
Roberta Pires de Oliveira
2011 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Pires de Oliveira ◽  
Susan Rothstein

It is a consensus in the literature that the so called Bare Singular (BS, from now on) in Brazilian Portuguese (BrP) is not semantically singular (Munn & Schmitt 1999, a.o.), but a number neutral count noun. In this paper, we explore the hypothesis that it is not a count noun. We reach such a conclusion by comparing the bare singular with both the bare mass noun and the bare plural count noun. We show that the behavior of the bare singular in BrP does not parallel that of the bare plural, but strongly parallels that of the bare mass noun. Based on such facts we propose that there are just two sorts of bare nouns in BrP: Bare Mass and Bare Plural. The Bare Mass denotes either the kind or a mass predicate, whereas the Bare Plural always denotes a plural predicate. These different semantics explain their different behavior. As conclusion, we show some unexpected results from our approach. The outline of the paper is as follows. We begin by showing that the prima facie arguments against treating bare singulars as mass nouns are not valid. Our claims are based on the fact that the literature has compared bare singular nouns with non-atomic mass nouns, and has shown that they behave differently with respect to the relevant tests. However, comparing bare singulars with naturally atomic mass nouns such as mobília ‘furniture’ gives different results. We then show, in section 2, that the bare singular displays the same distributional restrictions as the bare mass noun both in episodic and generic contexts, a fact that, as far as we know, has gone unnoticed in the literature. This strengthens the case for treating them alike. In section 3 we give a semantics for mass nouns and count nouns in the framework of Rothstein 2010a, b which allows for a unified analysis of bare singulars and mass terms, that differs from that attributed to the bare plural. In section 4, we explain the data from earlier sections in the light of the analysis, and propose a semantics for bare plurals which explains their behavior in BrP. Finally, we also show that our account predicts that so called ‘bare singulars’ can occur with mass determiners, and we give arguments to show that this prediction is correct. Moreover its behavior in comparative contexts also supports our hypothesis that it is a mass.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Sebastià Salvà i Puig

This paper aims to explain, from a theoretical point of view, the behaviour of past participle agreement with the object in situ (PPAOIS) in Majorcan Catalan. It is possible in perfect telic dynamic events, but not in Kimian and Davidsonian states —except for certain telic dynamic constructions built with Kiparsky (1998) and Jaque’s  (2014) high pure stative verbs—, nor in some atelic dynamic constructions (like those ones with NP objects bounded by a D or Q), although it is perfectly grammatical with bare plurals and with bare mass nouns. In order for PPAOIS to be possible, it is proposed that a specific functional head (Asp, that is to say: Proc[uq][uϕ]), related to so-called inner aspect, must be present in the event structure. Asp establishes a double Agree relation with the object, in order to get its quantisation and [uϕ] features valued. It is also explored the possibility that the [q] feature of Asp be interpretable. If Asp is not present in the structure, the impossibility of PPAOIS follows. Moreover, PPAOIS will be only materialised if a pro object co-referent with the full NP object moves through a LowTop position —similar to the AgrO projection proposed by Kayne (1989).


2016 ◽  
Vol 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzi Oliveira Lima ◽  
Ana Paula Quadros Gomes

Abstract The interpretation of Bare Singular count nouns (henceforth BS nouns) has been at the center of much debate in the literature on countability in Brazilian Portuguese. In this paper, we ad- dress the question whether BS nouns may only be interpreted as mass nouns or as names of kinds, or whether they may also be interpreted as object denoting nouns. It is generally agreed that BS nouns can be interpreted as names of kinds. Furthermore, Beviláqua and Pires de Oliveira (2014) show that BS nouns are interpreted as mass nouns in contexts that favor a mass interpretation. However, the preferred interpretation of BS nouns in neutral contexts (i.e. contexts that favor neither a count nor a mass interpretation) has never been investigated experimentally. We present the results of two experiments, which show that speakers tend to interpret BS nouns as count nouns in neutral contexts.  


1976 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 577-588
Author(s):  
C. Mégessier ◽  
V. Khokhlova ◽  
T. Ryabchikova

My talk will be on the oblique rotator model which was first proposed by Stibbs (1950), and since received success and further developments. I shall present two different attempts at describing a star according to this model and the first results obtained in the framework of a Russian-French collaboration in order to test the precision of the two methods. The aim is to give the best possible representation of the element distributions on the Ap stellar surfaces. The first method is the mathematical formulation proposed by Deutsch (1958-1970) and applied by Deutsch (1958) to HD 125248, by Pyper (1969) to α2CVn and by Mégessier (1975) to 108 Aqr. The other one was proposed by Khokhlova (1974) and used by her group.


1976 ◽  
Vol 32 ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Vauclair

This paper gives the first results of a work in progress, in collaboration with G. Michaud and G. Vauclair. It is a first attempt to compute the effects of meridional circulation and turbulence on diffusion processes in stellar envelopes. Computations have been made for a 2 Mʘstar, which lies in the Am - δ Scuti region of the HR diagram.Let us recall that in Am stars diffusion cannot occur between the two outer convection zones, contrary to what was assumed by Watson (1970, 1971) and Smith (1971), since they are linked by overshooting (Latour, 1972; Toomre et al., 1975). But diffusion may occur at the bottom of the second convection zone. According to Vauclair et al. (1974), the second convection zone, due to He II ionization, disappears after a time equal to the helium diffusion time, and then diffusion may happen at the bottom of the first convection zone, so that the arguments by Watson and Smith are preserved.


Author(s):  
H. Seiler ◽  
U. Haas ◽  
K.H. Körtje

The physical properties of small metal particles reveal an intermediate position between atomic and bulk material. Especially Ag has shown pronounced size effects. We compared silver layers evaporated in high vacuum with cluster layers of small silver particles, evaporated in N2 at a pressure of about 102 Pa. The investigations were performed by electron optical methods (TEM, SEM, EELS) and by Photoacoustic (PA) Spectroscopy (gas-microphone detection).The observation of cluster layers with TEM and high resolution SEM show small silver particles with diameters of about 50 nm (Fig. 1 and Figure 2, respectively). The electron diffraction patterns of homogeneous Ag layers and of cluster layers are similar, whereas the low loss EELS spectra due to plasmon excitation are quite different. Fig. 3 and Figure 4 show first results of EELS spectra of a cluster layer of small silver particles on carbon foil and of a homogeneous Ag layer, respectively.


Author(s):  
H.S. von Harrach ◽  
D.E. Jesson ◽  
S.J. Pennycook

Phase contrast TEM has been the leading technique for high resolution imaging of materials for many years, whilst STEM has been the principal method for high-resolution microanalysis. However, it was demonstrated many years ago that low angle dark-field STEM imaging is a priori capable of almost 50% higher point resolution than coherent bright-field imaging (i.e. phase contrast TEM or STEM). This advantage was not exploited until Pennycook developed the high-angle annular dark-field (ADF) technique which can provide an incoherent image showing both high image resolution and atomic number contrast.This paper describes the design and first results of a 300kV field-emission STEM (VG Microscopes HB603U) which has improved ADF STEM image resolution towards the 1 angstrom target. The instrument uses a cold field-emission gun, generating a 300 kV beam of up to 1 μA from an 11-stage accelerator. The beam is focussed on to the specimen by two condensers and a condenser-objective lens with a spherical aberration coefficient of 1.0 mm.


Author(s):  
W.W. Adams ◽  
G. Price ◽  
A. Krause

It has been shown that there are numerous advantages in imaging both coated and uncoated polymers in scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at low voltages (LV) from 0.5 to 2.0 keV compared to imaging at conventional voltages of 10 to 20 keV. The disadvantages of LVSEM of degraded resolution and decreased beam current have been overcome with the new generation of field emission gun SEMs. In imaging metal coated polymers in LVSEM beam damage is reduced, contrast is improved, and charging from irregularly shaped features (which may be unevenly coated) is reduced or eliminated. Imaging uncoated polymers in LVSEM allows direct observation of the surface with little or no charging and with no alterations of surface features from the metal coating process required for higher voltage imaging. This is particularly important for high resolution (HR) studies of polymers where it is desired to image features 1 to 10 nm in size. Metal sputter coating techniques produce a 10 - 20 nm film that has its own texture which can obscure topographical features of the original polymer surface. In examining thin, uncoated insulating samples on a conducting substrate at low voltages the effect of sample-beam interactions on image formation and resolution will differ significantly from the effect at higher accelerating voltages. We discuss here sample-beam interactions in single crystals on conducting substrates at low voltages and also present the first results on HRSEM of single crystal morphologies which show some of these effects.


VASA ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 188-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reinhold ◽  
Haage ◽  
Hollenbeck ◽  
Mickley ◽  
Ranft

In February 2008 a multidisciplinary study group was established in Germany to improve the treatment of patients with potential vascular access problems. As one of the first results of their work interdisciplinary recommendations for the management of vascular access were provided, from the creation of the initial access to the treatment of complications. As a rule the wrist arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the access of choice due to its lower complication rate when compared to other types of access. The AVF should be created 3 months prior to the expected start of haemodialysis to allow for sufficient maturation. Second and third choice accesses are arteriovenous grafts (AVG) and central venous catheters (CVC). Ultrasound is a reliable tool for vessel selection before access creation, and also for the diagnosis of complications in AVF and grafts. Access stenosis and thrombosis can be treated surgically and interventionally. The comparison of both methods reveals advantages and disadvantages for each. The therapeutic decision should be based on the individual patients’ constitution, and also on the availability and experience of the involved specialists.


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