In formal semantics, subtrigging is the phenomenon whereby free choice items in episodic sentences require a modifier. For instance, the following sentence is not acceptable in English.[1][2][3][4]
- *Any student signed the petition.
However, the sentence can be repaired by adding a post-nominal modifier such as a relative clause, prepositional phrase, or locative.
- Any student who went to the meeting signed the petition. (RC)
- Any student at the meeting signed the petition. (PP)
- Any student there signed the petition. (locative)
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ LeGrand, Jean (1975). Or and Any: The semantics and syntax of two logical operators (PhD). University of Chicago.
- ^ Dayal, Veneeta (1998). ""Any" as inherently modal". Linguistics and Philosophy. 21 (5): 433–476. doi:10.1023/A:1005494000753. JSTOR 25001717. S2CID 60654913.
- ^ Aloni, Maria (2007). "Free choice and exhaustification: an account of subtrigging effects". Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung. 11.
- ^ Dayal, Veneeta (2009). "A viability constraint on alternatives for free choice". In Fălăuș, Anamaria (ed.). Alternatives in semantics. Palgrave Macmillan. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.225.2499.
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