Marcin Wągiel | Masaryk University (original) (raw)

Thesis Chapters by Marcin Wągiel

The main aim of this thesis is to contribute to our understanding of quantification in natural la... more The main aim of this thesis is to contribute to our understanding of quantification in natural language by exploring the so far neglected domain of subatomic quantification, i.e., quantification over parts of building blocks of the denotations of singular count nouns. I provide compelling evidence for the relevance of this phenomenon for natural language semantics. In particular, I explore various aspects of meaning of a broad range of linguistic expressions such as different types of partitive constructions, certain types of adjectives as well as multipliers from a cross-linguistic perspective. One of the key findings is the significance of the topological notion of integrity with respect to part-whole structures encoded in nominal semantics. The examination of properties of different types of investigated expressions suggests that there is one unified parthood relation for various types of entities. At the same time, different part-whole structures result from distinct topological relations holding between particular elements. Entities conceptualized as integrated wholes, i.e., objects whose parts stick together, differ from those whose parts are not bound by any topological constraints, alternatively, are arranged in other types of spatial configurations. This concerns both wholes, e.g., the prototypical referents of singular count nouns and regular plurals, and parts, e.g., spatially continuous pieces as opposed to arbitrary discontinuous portions of matter. The major claim of the thesis is that subatomic quantification is subject to the very same constraints as quantification over wholes. Specifically, only entities that are conceptualized as non-overlapping integrated contiguous objects can be put in one-to-one correspondence with numbers be it either wholes or parts. In order to capture this generalization, I propose a universal mechanism which allows for counting of both entire objects and their parts. Its formal implementation is based on the theory of wholes called mereotopology which extends standard mereological parthood with topological notions such as connectedness. Building on this framework, I develop a system which derives the predicted semantics of representative constructions discussed in the empirical part of the thesis. Different aspects of their meaning arise as a result of the interaction between topology, partitivity, and numerical quantification. An important advantage of the proposed approach is that it does not define countability in terms of atomicity since devising counting as quantification over mereological atoms, i.e., entities that have no proper parts, is very problematic for subatomic quantification.

Books by Marcin Wągiel

Subatomic Quantification, 2021

The goal of this book is to explore the relationship between the cognitive notion of parthood and... more The goal of this book is to explore the relationship between the cognitive notion of parthood and various grammatical devices expressing this concept in natural language. The monograph aims to investigate syntactic constructions and lexical categories, e.g., partitives, whole-adjectives, and multipliers, encoding different kinds of part-whole structures both in Slavic and non-Slavic languages. It is envisioned to inspire radical rethinking of the ontology of models accounting for nominal semantics. Specifically, it provides novel evidence for a mereotopological approach to meaning, i.e., a theory of wholes that captures not only parthood but also topological relations holding between parts. This evidence comes from the phenomenon of subatomic quantification, i.e., quantification over parts of referents of concrete count nouns.

Fonematyka języka polskiego w ujęciu funkcjonalizmu aksjomatycznego, 2016

Celem niniejszej monografii jest zaprezentowanie alternatywnego spojrzenia na fonematykę języka p... more Celem niniejszej monografii jest zaprezentowanie alternatywnego spojrzenia na fonematykę języka polskiego, które pozwoliłoby pokazać znane fakty empiryczne w nowym świetle i zaproponować innowacyjne rozwiązania dla ich interpretacji. Aparat pojęciowy przyjęty na potrzeby opisu to teoria funkcjonalizmu aksjomatycznego, która stanowi spójny system semiotyczny odwołujący się do osiągnięć funkcjonalistycznie zorientowanych kierunków językoznawstwa strukturalistycznego. Teoria ta podkreśla potrzebę precyzji oraz adekwatności opisu lingwistycznego i daje odpowiednie narzędzia do przeprowadzenia szczegółowej analizy deskryptywnej zjawisk fonetycznych współczesnej polszczyzny. W wyniku zastosowania rygorystycznej pod względem metodologicznym procedury sformułowano spójną interpretację polskiego systemu fonematycznego, która pod wieloma względami różni się od tradycyjnych ujęć.

Papers by Marcin Wągiel

Acta Linguistica Academica 69(1), 2022

In this paper, I investigate the distribution and semantic behavior of various proportional quant... more In this paper, I investigate the distribution and semantic behavior of various proportional quantifiers (PQs) in Polish. Based on novel evidence including corpus data, I conclude that Polish PQs do not constitute a uniform category, but rather can be divided into four distinct classes based on the following properties: i) (in)compatibility with numerals and measure words, ii) (in)compatibility with approximative modifiers, iii) (in)compatibility with cumulative predicates and iv) (non)occurrence of spatial integrity effects. I propose that such a typology results from an interplay between more primitive semantic notions. In particular, the data call for combining degree semantics with a mereotopological approach to the meaning of PQs.

Linguistics Beyond And Within 8, 2022

Complex numerals are numerals composed of two or more numeral roots, e.g., three hundred five. Co... more Complex numerals are numerals composed of two or more numeral roots, e.g., three hundred five. Complex numerals fall into two classes called additive (e.g., twenty-three = 20 + 3) and multiplicative (e.g., three hundred = 3 × 100). There are two possible approaches to capturing their structure. Analysis A (e.g., He 2015) says that complex numerals form a constituent that quantifies over entities denoted by the noun. Analysis B (e.g., Ionin and Matushansky 2018) says that each numeral independently combines with the expression denoting counted entities. This article investigates the morphology of complex numerals in a sample of 17 diverse languages to determine which of these analyses (if any) is more accurate. Our goal is to lay out the patterns and discuss how well they fit with these theories. Our preliminary conclusion is that both structures should be allowed based on the data in our sample, though structures adhering to Analysis A (the complex numeral is a constituent) seem to be more common than the other type.

Proceedings of North East Linguistics Society 52, 2022

The goal of this paper is to shed more light on the linguistic relevance of the distinction betwe... more The goal of this paper is to shed more light on the linguistic relevance of the distinction between collectives like (i) `committee of experts' and (ii) `stack of plates'. Despite the fact that intuitively (i) differs conceptually from (ii) in that the former describes a social collection, whereas the latter designates a spatial collection, for a long time a tacit assumption in theoretical linguistics was that collective nouns form a homogenous class (e.g., Landman 1989, Barker 1992, Schwarzschild 1996). It was only in the last decade or so that a number of proposals postulated that the conceptual distinction between (i) and (ii) is reflected in grammar (Joosten 2010, Pearson 2011, de Vries 2015, Henderson 2017, Zwarts 2020; for a recent overview, see de Vries 2021). In this paper, I will argue that natural language does in fact distinguish between social and spatial collections, though many of the diagnostics proposed in the previous literature are flawed in that they neglect the confounding factor of (in)animacy. After neutralizing this confound, it becomes clear that two orthogonal dimensions play a role in group-formation, namely the animate/inanimate and the spatial/social distinctions, and grammar is sensitive to both.

In this paper, I investigate certain intriguing properties of two types of quantificational adjec... more In this paper, I investigate certain intriguing properties of two types of quantificational adjectives exemplified by the English two-time and double and their interactions with event semantics. I explore their semantic behavior in phrases such as two-time champion and double murder and show that they operate on hidden eventive components within the semantics of the modified NPs. Building on Zobel's (2017) analysis of social roles and Wągiel's (2018) theory of subatomic quantification, I propose an analysis that accounts for their puzzling properties. In particular, I argue that two-time counts events of acquiring of a salient and conventionalized social role by an individual, whereas double is a subatomic quantifier that counts essential parts of an event.

Acta Linguistics Academica, 2021

It is commonly assumed that basic cardinal numerals such as English three are simplex expressions... more It is commonly assumed that basic cardinal numerals such as English three are simplex expressions whose primary function is to quantify over entities denoted by the modified NP (e.g., Kennedy 2015; Rothstein 2017; Ionin & Matushansky 2018). In this paper, we explore cross-linguistic marking patterns suggesting that cardinals in fact lexicalize complex syntactic and semantic structures derived from the primitive notion of the number scale. The evidence we will investigate comes from various morphological shapes of cardinal numerals when used to count objects and when used for abstract arithmetical counting.

Formal Approaches to Number in Slavic and Beyond, 2021

In this chapter, I examine two types of Slavic derived collective nouns, namely spatial collectiv... more In this chapter, I examine two types of Slavic derived collective nouns, namely spatial collectives such as Polish kwiecie 'clump of flowers' and social collectives like duchowieństwo 'collective of priests, clergy'. While the former refer to collections of objects perceived as coherent spatial configurations, the latter denote groups of human individuals performing a salient social role. Building on Grimm (2012) and Zobel (2017), I propose an analysis that treats the Slavic derived collective nouns in question as predicates true of spatial and social clusters, respectively. The proposal extends mereotopology to the abstract domain of social roles.

Formal Approaches to Number in Slavic and Beyond, 2021

In this introduction, we provide a general overview of a variety of phenomena related to the enco... more In this introduction, we provide a general overview of a variety of phenomena related to the encoding of the cognitive category of number in natural language, e.g., number-marking, collective nouns, conjunctions, numerals and other quantifiers, as well as classifiers, and show how Slavic data can contribute to our understanding of these phenomena. We also examine the main strands of the study of number in language developed within formal linguistics, linguistic typology, and psycholinguistics. Finally, we introduce the content of this collective monograph and discuss its relevance to current research.

The paper proposes a unified morpho-semantic account for the typological variation in form and me... more The paper proposes a unified morpho-semantic account for the typological variation in form and meaning of cardinal numerals across languages. In particular, we investigate the morphological marking of different types of cardinals and argue that it is possible to identify cross-linguistically stable semantic ingredients, which compositionally provide the attested types of numerals. We adopt the framework of Nanosyntax (Starke 2009 et seq.) as a model of morphology which, when applied to the semantic structures we propose, delivers the relevant marking patterns. The model we develop is broadly based on the idea that the meaning components are uniformly structured across languages, and they must all be pronounced, though languages differ in how they pronounce them. All cardinals share an underlying scale of natural numbers but differ in a number of operations subsequently applied to that scale.

In standard lattice-theoretic approaches to natural language (e.g., Link 1983, Land-man 2000, Cha... more In standard lattice-theoretic approaches to natural language (e.g., Link 1983, Land-man 2000, Champollion 2017) singularities and pluralities are presumed to involve two distinct mereological structures and it is commonly supposed that quantificational expressions do not access subatomic part-whole relations. In this paper, I argue that i) certain quantificational expressions are sensitive to subatomic part-whole structures, ii) quantification over parts is subject to identical restrictions as quantification over wholes and iii) counting presupposes certain topological relations. I present new evidence in favor of a mereotopological approach to natural language (cf. Grimm 2012) as well as novel data concerning the interaction between quantification and subatomic part-whole relations.

The research on comparatives is vast (e.g., von Stechow 1984, Heim 2000, Kennedy & McNally 2005, ... more The research on comparatives is vast (e.g., von Stechow 1984, Heim 2000, Kennedy & McNally 2005, Pancheva 2006, Schwarzschild 2008, Rett 2008, Solt 2015), and yet, a class of constructions involving so-called EXCEED comparison still remains somewhat understudied (notable exceptions involve, e.g., Stassen 1985, Beck et al. 2009, Howell 2013, Bochnak 2018), and are virtually neglected in the context of Slavic linguistics. In this paper, we intend to contribute to filling this gap by investigating semantic properties of two classes of Czech EXCEED verbs formed with the prefix pře- ‘across’, ‘over (approximate literal meaning), such as převyšovat (‘exceed’: lit. ‘over-highten’) ‘to exceed in height’ and překračovat (‘exceed’; lit. ‘over-step’) ‘to exceed’. To this goal, we will draw on two largely independent strands of research, i.e., formal semantic treatment of Slavic prefixes and prepositions as expressions that are lexically associated with scales (e.g., Filip 2008; Kagan 2013), on the one hand, and an approach to numeral modifiers as degree quantifiers, on the other hand. Numeral modifiers can be divided into two types, as proposed by Nouwen (2010, 2015): (i) class A modifiers which are comparative modifiers that compare two definite cardinalities, e.g., more/fewer than 100; under/over 100, and (ii) class B modifiers which are maxima and minima indicators that relate a range of values to a certain boundary, e.g., at least/most/from/up to/maximally 100.

Though in recent years considerable attention has been dedicated to the semantic interpretation o... more Though in recent years considerable attention has been dedicated to the semantic interpretation of certain suffixes making up Slavic derivationally complex numerical expressions (e.g., Dočekal 2013, Wągiel 2014, 2015, to appear, Dočekal and Wągiel 2019), thorough research on the meaning of different forms of basic cardinal numerals has not been pursued so far. The goal of this paper is to provide novel evidence revealing non-trivial constraints on the distribution of Slavic marked cardinals and indicating that such forms used as modifiers and predicates are in fact semantically complex expressions involving classifier semantics.

In this paper, I examine properties of two Polish indefinite quantifiers, namely ileś 'some, some... more In this paper, I examine properties of two Polish indefinite quantifiers, namely ileś 'some, some number' and kilka 'several, a few'. I argue that they share morpho-syntactic properties with cardinal numerals rather than with vague quantifiers such as mało 'little, few' and dużo 'much, many' and propose that they should be modeled as involving a built-in classifier comprising both a measure function and choice function. The difference between the two indefinites boils down to the type of set the choice function selects a member from and the type of measure function that is employed.

In this paper, we bring in novel data concerning distribution and semantic properties of two clas... more In this paper, we bring in novel data concerning distribution and semantic properties of two classes of adverbs of quantification in Czech, i.e., event numerals such as dvakrát ('twice/two times') as opposed to degree numerals such as dvojnásobně ('doubly/twofold'). We explore the contrasts between the expressions in question including the interaction with comparatives and equatives as well as scope asymmetries. We propose that degree numerals target values on a provided scale and are, hence, best analyzed as predicates of degrees whereas event numerals have a more general semantics which primarily allows for quantification over individuated events, but also enables to operate on degrees.

In this paper, I present novel data concerning quantification in the adjectival domain. I examine... more In this paper, I present novel data concerning quantification in the adjectival domain. I examine semantic properties of Slavic multipliers such as Polish podwójny, Czech dvojitý, Russian dvojnoj, and Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian dvostruki (all 'double') which seem to involve what I call subatomic quantification. Unlike cardinal numerals, multipliers do not count entities or events, but rather their particular parts. Since Slavic multipliers are derivationally complex, I argue that they are in fact compositional. Building on the system of Krifka (1989, 1990, and 1995), I propose an analysis which accounts for a representative subset of data. The main claim is that in Slavic numeral roots simply denote numbers whereas specialized morphemes restrict the domain of quantification by introducing a special measure function yielding a number of self-sufficient parts, i.e., elements which have a property of a whole, constituting an individual or event denoted by a noun.

In this paper I discuss issues related to the semantic interpretation of the plural. I review two... more In this paper I discuss issues related to the semantic interpretation of the plural. I review two alternative approaches to the problem, namely the inclusive and exclusive interpretation of the plural, and recall arguments against the inclusive approach. Furthermore, I propose that the developed here unified semantics of pair supports the exclusive account. The analysis accounts for the supposedly heterogeneous behavior of pair in phrases in which it combines with regular plural nouns and, on the other hand, with pluralia tantum. The puzzle concerns different cardinality of denoted objects. I posit that the denotation of regular count nouns includes only sums of individuals, whereas pluralia tantum denote complete semi-lattices. In each case, pair selects a minimal element of the denotation of a noun, i.e., either a sum consisting of two individuals or an atom, and turns it into a group which can be further counted.

In this paper I trace the semantic change the Polish measure word para (‘pair’) and quantifier pa... more In this paper I trace the semantic change the Polish measure word para (‘pair’) and quantifier parę (‘several, a few’) have undergone. I show that both words originated from the Old Polish group noun pår (‘pair’) and explore both historical and Modern Polish data concerning puzzles related to the distribution and interpretation of para and parę in phrases with regular count nouns and pluralia tantum. Building on Krifka’s (1995) theory of common nouns which I extend with the group-forming operation developed by Landman (1989, 2000) I propose a semantic analysis of the Modern Polish measure word para which can be further used to reconstruct its semantic development. The analysis assumes distinct denotations of singular and plural regular count nouns on the one hand and mass nouns and pluralia tantum on the other.

In this squib I discuss a puzzle concerning the Polish measure word para (‘pair of’) and its supp... more In this squib I discuss a puzzle concerning the Polish measure word para (‘pair of’) and its supposedly heterogeneous behavior in phrases in which it combines with regular count nouns and, on the other hand, with pluralia tantum. The puzzle concerns the different cardinality of denoted objects and the relationship between atomicity and collectivity. Building on the theory of Krifka (1995) which I extend with the group-forming operation developed by Landman (1989) I propose a unified semantic interpretation of para. I posit that the denotation of regular count nouns includes only sums of individuals whereas pluralia tantum denote complete semi-lattices. In each case, para selects a minimal element of the denotation of a noun, i.e., either a sum consisting of 2 individuals or an atom, and turns it into a group which can be further counted.

The main aim of this thesis is to contribute to our understanding of quantification in natural la... more The main aim of this thesis is to contribute to our understanding of quantification in natural language by exploring the so far neglected domain of subatomic quantification, i.e., quantification over parts of building blocks of the denotations of singular count nouns. I provide compelling evidence for the relevance of this phenomenon for natural language semantics. In particular, I explore various aspects of meaning of a broad range of linguistic expressions such as different types of partitive constructions, certain types of adjectives as well as multipliers from a cross-linguistic perspective. One of the key findings is the significance of the topological notion of integrity with respect to part-whole structures encoded in nominal semantics. The examination of properties of different types of investigated expressions suggests that there is one unified parthood relation for various types of entities. At the same time, different part-whole structures result from distinct topological relations holding between particular elements. Entities conceptualized as integrated wholes, i.e., objects whose parts stick together, differ from those whose parts are not bound by any topological constraints, alternatively, are arranged in other types of spatial configurations. This concerns both wholes, e.g., the prototypical referents of singular count nouns and regular plurals, and parts, e.g., spatially continuous pieces as opposed to arbitrary discontinuous portions of matter. The major claim of the thesis is that subatomic quantification is subject to the very same constraints as quantification over wholes. Specifically, only entities that are conceptualized as non-overlapping integrated contiguous objects can be put in one-to-one correspondence with numbers be it either wholes or parts. In order to capture this generalization, I propose a universal mechanism which allows for counting of both entire objects and their parts. Its formal implementation is based on the theory of wholes called mereotopology which extends standard mereological parthood with topological notions such as connectedness. Building on this framework, I develop a system which derives the predicted semantics of representative constructions discussed in the empirical part of the thesis. Different aspects of their meaning arise as a result of the interaction between topology, partitivity, and numerical quantification. An important advantage of the proposed approach is that it does not define countability in terms of atomicity since devising counting as quantification over mereological atoms, i.e., entities that have no proper parts, is very problematic for subatomic quantification.

Subatomic Quantification, 2021

The goal of this book is to explore the relationship between the cognitive notion of parthood and... more The goal of this book is to explore the relationship between the cognitive notion of parthood and various grammatical devices expressing this concept in natural language. The monograph aims to investigate syntactic constructions and lexical categories, e.g., partitives, whole-adjectives, and multipliers, encoding different kinds of part-whole structures both in Slavic and non-Slavic languages. It is envisioned to inspire radical rethinking of the ontology of models accounting for nominal semantics. Specifically, it provides novel evidence for a mereotopological approach to meaning, i.e., a theory of wholes that captures not only parthood but also topological relations holding between parts. This evidence comes from the phenomenon of subatomic quantification, i.e., quantification over parts of referents of concrete count nouns.

Fonematyka języka polskiego w ujęciu funkcjonalizmu aksjomatycznego, 2016

Celem niniejszej monografii jest zaprezentowanie alternatywnego spojrzenia na fonematykę języka p... more Celem niniejszej monografii jest zaprezentowanie alternatywnego spojrzenia na fonematykę języka polskiego, które pozwoliłoby pokazać znane fakty empiryczne w nowym świetle i zaproponować innowacyjne rozwiązania dla ich interpretacji. Aparat pojęciowy przyjęty na potrzeby opisu to teoria funkcjonalizmu aksjomatycznego, która stanowi spójny system semiotyczny odwołujący się do osiągnięć funkcjonalistycznie zorientowanych kierunków językoznawstwa strukturalistycznego. Teoria ta podkreśla potrzebę precyzji oraz adekwatności opisu lingwistycznego i daje odpowiednie narzędzia do przeprowadzenia szczegółowej analizy deskryptywnej zjawisk fonetycznych współczesnej polszczyzny. W wyniku zastosowania rygorystycznej pod względem metodologicznym procedury sformułowano spójną interpretację polskiego systemu fonematycznego, która pod wieloma względami różni się od tradycyjnych ujęć.

Acta Linguistica Academica 69(1), 2022

In this paper, I investigate the distribution and semantic behavior of various proportional quant... more In this paper, I investigate the distribution and semantic behavior of various proportional quantifiers (PQs) in Polish. Based on novel evidence including corpus data, I conclude that Polish PQs do not constitute a uniform category, but rather can be divided into four distinct classes based on the following properties: i) (in)compatibility with numerals and measure words, ii) (in)compatibility with approximative modifiers, iii) (in)compatibility with cumulative predicates and iv) (non)occurrence of spatial integrity effects. I propose that such a typology results from an interplay between more primitive semantic notions. In particular, the data call for combining degree semantics with a mereotopological approach to the meaning of PQs.

Linguistics Beyond And Within 8, 2022

Complex numerals are numerals composed of two or more numeral roots, e.g., three hundred five. Co... more Complex numerals are numerals composed of two or more numeral roots, e.g., three hundred five. Complex numerals fall into two classes called additive (e.g., twenty-three = 20 + 3) and multiplicative (e.g., three hundred = 3 × 100). There are two possible approaches to capturing their structure. Analysis A (e.g., He 2015) says that complex numerals form a constituent that quantifies over entities denoted by the noun. Analysis B (e.g., Ionin and Matushansky 2018) says that each numeral independently combines with the expression denoting counted entities. This article investigates the morphology of complex numerals in a sample of 17 diverse languages to determine which of these analyses (if any) is more accurate. Our goal is to lay out the patterns and discuss how well they fit with these theories. Our preliminary conclusion is that both structures should be allowed based on the data in our sample, though structures adhering to Analysis A (the complex numeral is a constituent) seem to be more common than the other type.

Proceedings of North East Linguistics Society 52, 2022

The goal of this paper is to shed more light on the linguistic relevance of the distinction betwe... more The goal of this paper is to shed more light on the linguistic relevance of the distinction between collectives like (i) `committee of experts' and (ii) `stack of plates'. Despite the fact that intuitively (i) differs conceptually from (ii) in that the former describes a social collection, whereas the latter designates a spatial collection, for a long time a tacit assumption in theoretical linguistics was that collective nouns form a homogenous class (e.g., Landman 1989, Barker 1992, Schwarzschild 1996). It was only in the last decade or so that a number of proposals postulated that the conceptual distinction between (i) and (ii) is reflected in grammar (Joosten 2010, Pearson 2011, de Vries 2015, Henderson 2017, Zwarts 2020; for a recent overview, see de Vries 2021). In this paper, I will argue that natural language does in fact distinguish between social and spatial collections, though many of the diagnostics proposed in the previous literature are flawed in that they neglect the confounding factor of (in)animacy. After neutralizing this confound, it becomes clear that two orthogonal dimensions play a role in group-formation, namely the animate/inanimate and the spatial/social distinctions, and grammar is sensitive to both.

In this paper, I investigate certain intriguing properties of two types of quantificational adjec... more In this paper, I investigate certain intriguing properties of two types of quantificational adjectives exemplified by the English two-time and double and their interactions with event semantics. I explore their semantic behavior in phrases such as two-time champion and double murder and show that they operate on hidden eventive components within the semantics of the modified NPs. Building on Zobel's (2017) analysis of social roles and Wągiel's (2018) theory of subatomic quantification, I propose an analysis that accounts for their puzzling properties. In particular, I argue that two-time counts events of acquiring of a salient and conventionalized social role by an individual, whereas double is a subatomic quantifier that counts essential parts of an event.

Acta Linguistics Academica, 2021

It is commonly assumed that basic cardinal numerals such as English three are simplex expressions... more It is commonly assumed that basic cardinal numerals such as English three are simplex expressions whose primary function is to quantify over entities denoted by the modified NP (e.g., Kennedy 2015; Rothstein 2017; Ionin & Matushansky 2018). In this paper, we explore cross-linguistic marking patterns suggesting that cardinals in fact lexicalize complex syntactic and semantic structures derived from the primitive notion of the number scale. The evidence we will investigate comes from various morphological shapes of cardinal numerals when used to count objects and when used for abstract arithmetical counting.

Formal Approaches to Number in Slavic and Beyond, 2021

In this chapter, I examine two types of Slavic derived collective nouns, namely spatial collectiv... more In this chapter, I examine two types of Slavic derived collective nouns, namely spatial collectives such as Polish kwiecie 'clump of flowers' and social collectives like duchowieństwo 'collective of priests, clergy'. While the former refer to collections of objects perceived as coherent spatial configurations, the latter denote groups of human individuals performing a salient social role. Building on Grimm (2012) and Zobel (2017), I propose an analysis that treats the Slavic derived collective nouns in question as predicates true of spatial and social clusters, respectively. The proposal extends mereotopology to the abstract domain of social roles.

Formal Approaches to Number in Slavic and Beyond, 2021

In this introduction, we provide a general overview of a variety of phenomena related to the enco... more In this introduction, we provide a general overview of a variety of phenomena related to the encoding of the cognitive category of number in natural language, e.g., number-marking, collective nouns, conjunctions, numerals and other quantifiers, as well as classifiers, and show how Slavic data can contribute to our understanding of these phenomena. We also examine the main strands of the study of number in language developed within formal linguistics, linguistic typology, and psycholinguistics. Finally, we introduce the content of this collective monograph and discuss its relevance to current research.

The paper proposes a unified morpho-semantic account for the typological variation in form and me... more The paper proposes a unified morpho-semantic account for the typological variation in form and meaning of cardinal numerals across languages. In particular, we investigate the morphological marking of different types of cardinals and argue that it is possible to identify cross-linguistically stable semantic ingredients, which compositionally provide the attested types of numerals. We adopt the framework of Nanosyntax (Starke 2009 et seq.) as a model of morphology which, when applied to the semantic structures we propose, delivers the relevant marking patterns. The model we develop is broadly based on the idea that the meaning components are uniformly structured across languages, and they must all be pronounced, though languages differ in how they pronounce them. All cardinals share an underlying scale of natural numbers but differ in a number of operations subsequently applied to that scale.

In standard lattice-theoretic approaches to natural language (e.g., Link 1983, Land-man 2000, Cha... more In standard lattice-theoretic approaches to natural language (e.g., Link 1983, Land-man 2000, Champollion 2017) singularities and pluralities are presumed to involve two distinct mereological structures and it is commonly supposed that quantificational expressions do not access subatomic part-whole relations. In this paper, I argue that i) certain quantificational expressions are sensitive to subatomic part-whole structures, ii) quantification over parts is subject to identical restrictions as quantification over wholes and iii) counting presupposes certain topological relations. I present new evidence in favor of a mereotopological approach to natural language (cf. Grimm 2012) as well as novel data concerning the interaction between quantification and subatomic part-whole relations.

The research on comparatives is vast (e.g., von Stechow 1984, Heim 2000, Kennedy & McNally 2005, ... more The research on comparatives is vast (e.g., von Stechow 1984, Heim 2000, Kennedy & McNally 2005, Pancheva 2006, Schwarzschild 2008, Rett 2008, Solt 2015), and yet, a class of constructions involving so-called EXCEED comparison still remains somewhat understudied (notable exceptions involve, e.g., Stassen 1985, Beck et al. 2009, Howell 2013, Bochnak 2018), and are virtually neglected in the context of Slavic linguistics. In this paper, we intend to contribute to filling this gap by investigating semantic properties of two classes of Czech EXCEED verbs formed with the prefix pře- ‘across’, ‘over (approximate literal meaning), such as převyšovat (‘exceed’: lit. ‘over-highten’) ‘to exceed in height’ and překračovat (‘exceed’; lit. ‘over-step’) ‘to exceed’. To this goal, we will draw on two largely independent strands of research, i.e., formal semantic treatment of Slavic prefixes and prepositions as expressions that are lexically associated with scales (e.g., Filip 2008; Kagan 2013), on the one hand, and an approach to numeral modifiers as degree quantifiers, on the other hand. Numeral modifiers can be divided into two types, as proposed by Nouwen (2010, 2015): (i) class A modifiers which are comparative modifiers that compare two definite cardinalities, e.g., more/fewer than 100; under/over 100, and (ii) class B modifiers which are maxima and minima indicators that relate a range of values to a certain boundary, e.g., at least/most/from/up to/maximally 100.

Though in recent years considerable attention has been dedicated to the semantic interpretation o... more Though in recent years considerable attention has been dedicated to the semantic interpretation of certain suffixes making up Slavic derivationally complex numerical expressions (e.g., Dočekal 2013, Wągiel 2014, 2015, to appear, Dočekal and Wągiel 2019), thorough research on the meaning of different forms of basic cardinal numerals has not been pursued so far. The goal of this paper is to provide novel evidence revealing non-trivial constraints on the distribution of Slavic marked cardinals and indicating that such forms used as modifiers and predicates are in fact semantically complex expressions involving classifier semantics.

In this paper, I examine properties of two Polish indefinite quantifiers, namely ileś 'some, some... more In this paper, I examine properties of two Polish indefinite quantifiers, namely ileś 'some, some number' and kilka 'several, a few'. I argue that they share morpho-syntactic properties with cardinal numerals rather than with vague quantifiers such as mało 'little, few' and dużo 'much, many' and propose that they should be modeled as involving a built-in classifier comprising both a measure function and choice function. The difference between the two indefinites boils down to the type of set the choice function selects a member from and the type of measure function that is employed.

In this paper, we bring in novel data concerning distribution and semantic properties of two clas... more In this paper, we bring in novel data concerning distribution and semantic properties of two classes of adverbs of quantification in Czech, i.e., event numerals such as dvakrát ('twice/two times') as opposed to degree numerals such as dvojnásobně ('doubly/twofold'). We explore the contrasts between the expressions in question including the interaction with comparatives and equatives as well as scope asymmetries. We propose that degree numerals target values on a provided scale and are, hence, best analyzed as predicates of degrees whereas event numerals have a more general semantics which primarily allows for quantification over individuated events, but also enables to operate on degrees.

In this paper, I present novel data concerning quantification in the adjectival domain. I examine... more In this paper, I present novel data concerning quantification in the adjectival domain. I examine semantic properties of Slavic multipliers such as Polish podwójny, Czech dvojitý, Russian dvojnoj, and Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian dvostruki (all 'double') which seem to involve what I call subatomic quantification. Unlike cardinal numerals, multipliers do not count entities or events, but rather their particular parts. Since Slavic multipliers are derivationally complex, I argue that they are in fact compositional. Building on the system of Krifka (1989, 1990, and 1995), I propose an analysis which accounts for a representative subset of data. The main claim is that in Slavic numeral roots simply denote numbers whereas specialized morphemes restrict the domain of quantification by introducing a special measure function yielding a number of self-sufficient parts, i.e., elements which have a property of a whole, constituting an individual or event denoted by a noun.

In this paper I discuss issues related to the semantic interpretation of the plural. I review two... more In this paper I discuss issues related to the semantic interpretation of the plural. I review two alternative approaches to the problem, namely the inclusive and exclusive interpretation of the plural, and recall arguments against the inclusive approach. Furthermore, I propose that the developed here unified semantics of pair supports the exclusive account. The analysis accounts for the supposedly heterogeneous behavior of pair in phrases in which it combines with regular plural nouns and, on the other hand, with pluralia tantum. The puzzle concerns different cardinality of denoted objects. I posit that the denotation of regular count nouns includes only sums of individuals, whereas pluralia tantum denote complete semi-lattices. In each case, pair selects a minimal element of the denotation of a noun, i.e., either a sum consisting of two individuals or an atom, and turns it into a group which can be further counted.

In this paper I trace the semantic change the Polish measure word para (‘pair’) and quantifier pa... more In this paper I trace the semantic change the Polish measure word para (‘pair’) and quantifier parę (‘several, a few’) have undergone. I show that both words originated from the Old Polish group noun pår (‘pair’) and explore both historical and Modern Polish data concerning puzzles related to the distribution and interpretation of para and parę in phrases with regular count nouns and pluralia tantum. Building on Krifka’s (1995) theory of common nouns which I extend with the group-forming operation developed by Landman (1989, 2000) I propose a semantic analysis of the Modern Polish measure word para which can be further used to reconstruct its semantic development. The analysis assumes distinct denotations of singular and plural regular count nouns on the one hand and mass nouns and pluralia tantum on the other.

In this squib I discuss a puzzle concerning the Polish measure word para (‘pair of’) and its supp... more In this squib I discuss a puzzle concerning the Polish measure word para (‘pair of’) and its supposedly heterogeneous behavior in phrases in which it combines with regular count nouns and, on the other hand, with pluralia tantum. The puzzle concerns the different cardinality of denoted objects and the relationship between atomicity and collectivity. Building on the theory of Krifka (1995) which I extend with the group-forming operation developed by Landman (1989) I propose a unified semantic interpretation of para. I posit that the denotation of regular count nouns includes only sums of individuals whereas pluralia tantum denote complete semi-lattices. In each case, para selects a minimal element of the denotation of a noun, i.e., either a sum consisting of 2 individuals or an atom, and turns it into a group which can be further counted.

In this paper I discuss two types of adjectival modification in Polish, namely the semantics of p... more In this paper I discuss two types of adjectival modification in Polish, namely the semantics of prenominal and postnominal adjectives. I discuss different entailment patterns related to the placement of adjectival modifiers and the relation between adjectives in both positions and genericity. I postulate a unified intersective semantics for both prenominal and postnominal adjectives and argue that they are predicates denoting properties of objects and kinds respectively. I posit that the kind area is associated with the NP and in the process of semantic composition nouns first combine with postnominal modifiers and then with prenominal ones. The proposal is based on the syntactic analysis of Rutkowski and Progovac (2005) and the semantic framework of McNally and Boleda (2004).

In this paper I argue in favor of the compositionality of derivationally complex numerals countin... more In this paper I argue in favor of the compositionality of derivationally complex numerals counting objects in Polish. Following Dočekal (2012, 2013) and Wągiel (2014), I propose that it is always the root that defines the cardinality of counted entities, different suffixes, however, modify the meaning of the numeral by introducing additional truth conditions that specify what type of objects is counted.

In this paper I deal with the semantic properties of Polish NPs headed by numerals with the suffi... more In this paper I deal with the semantic properties of Polish NPs headed by numerals with the suffix -e, e.g. dwoje studentów (“two students”). I present constraints on the distribution of Polish -e numerals and provide evidence that these constraints follow on from their semantics. I examine three types of NPs in which numerals with the suffix -e can appear and propose a semantic interpretation of each type of such NPs. Furthermore, I argue that Polish numerals with the suffix -e are compositional and discuss the semantic contribution of each morpheme in their morphological make-up. The analysis is based on the formal semantic theory of Landman (2000).