Montague Grammar Induction

We propose a computational model for inducing full-fledged combinatory categorial grammars from behavioral data. This model contrasts with prior computational models of selection in representing syntactic and semantic types as structured (rather than atomic) objects, enabling direct interpretation of the modeling results relative to standard formal frameworks. We investigate the grammar our model induces when fit to a lexicon-scale acceptability judgment dataset – Mega Acceptability – focusing in particular on the types our model assigns to clausal complements and the predicates that select them.

Recursive adjectival modification in CLLRS

This paper sketches an analysis in Lexical Resource Semantics of adverbial and adjectival modification in nominal projections which is extensible to modification of other syntactic categories. It combines insights into the syntax-semantics interface of recursive modification in HPSG with underspecified semantics and type-logical meaning representations in the tradition of Montague grammar. The analysis is phrased in such a way that it receives a direct implementation in the Constraint Language of Lexical Resource Semantics as part of the TRALE system.

Zur zeitlichen Evaluierung von Phasenverben. Das Problem der „leeren Mitte“ oder: Wie viele Intervalle braucht die Semantik von Phasenverben?

On the temporal evaluation of phasal verbs. The problem of the ‘empty mid’ or: How many intervals does the semantics of phasal verbs need? In this paper I argue that the default view on phasal verb semantics, conceptualising them as change-of-state entities shifting from a proposition to its negated counterpart and, consequently, operating with points of time, has to be revised by considering intervals (and not points) as the fundamental semantic reference entities; perhaps more important, the study’s results make it necessary to take into account at least one more interval “in between”. This interval is, I am proposing, by no means marginal, as it constitutes a relevant evaluation interval where phasal meaning proper in terms of beginning, finishing and continuing unfolds. Constructions with phasal verbs in general allow, as will be shown, the possibility of adverbials modifying an interval situated between the interval before and after the moment of change-of-state, which is a strong argument in favour of the proposed third interval. - On the outset of this article it is argued that mainstream approaches to phasal semantics, working with two points of time, indirectly introduce two evaluation intervals, and thereby leave open the interpretation of the mid interval. After having presented and discussed the relevant data, Dowty’s influential work on verb semantics, Word meaning and Montague grammar, is discussed and it will be demonstrated that the ‘problem of the empty mid’ was recognised by Dowty, but not properly integrated into his conception of interval semantics.

Modularity and compositionality: The case of temporal modifiers

This paper concerns the possibility of building Montague grammars in a modular and incremental way. As an illustration, we investigate the following question. Given an atemporal Montague grammar, on the one hand, and a temporal ontology, on the other hand, is it possible to combine them into a new grammar such that it would: (i) conservatively extend the original grammar, and (ii) allow temporal modifiers to be accommodated.

The Temperature Paradox and Russell’s Analysis of the Definite Determiner

Lasersohn (2005) has argued that the use of Russell’s analysis of the definite determiner in Montague Grammar, which is responsible for giving the correct prediction in the case of the temperature paradox, is also responsible for giving the wrong prediction in the case of the Gupta syllogism. In this article, I argue against this claim and show that the problem with the Gupta syllogism can be solved by making a minor addition to Montague Grammar. This solution is one that Lasersohn discusses but rejects. I show that his critique of it is ill- founded.

Type-theoretical semantics with coercive subtyping

In the formal semantics based on modern type theories, common nouns are interpreted as types, rather than as functional subsets of entities as in Montague grammar. This brings about important advantages in linguistic interpretations but also leads to a limitation of expressive power because there are fewer operations on types as compared with those on functional subsets. The theory of coercive subtyping adequately extends the modern type theories with a notion of subtyping and, as shown in this paper, plays a very useful role in making type theories more expressive for formal semantics. In particular, it gives a satisfactory treatment of the type-theoretic interpretation of modified common nouns and allows straightforward interpretations of interesting linguistic phenomena such as copredication, whose interpretations have been found difficult in a Montagovian setting. We shall also study some type-theoretic constructs that provide useful representational tools for formal lexical semantics, including how the so-called dot-types for representing logical polysemy may be expressed in a type theory with coercive subtyping.

Structural ambiguity in Montague Grammar and categorial grammar

We give a type logical categorial grammar for the syntax and semantics of Montague's seminal fragment, which includes ambiguities of quantification and intensionality and their interactions, and we present the analyses assigned by a parser/theorem prover CatLog to the examples in the first half of Chapter 7 of the classic text