Universal #1211

Legacy number: 1211

 Number  1207
 Original  Dual quantifier universal:
If a natural language has a basic determiner for each of D and d then these are semantically equivalent to ‘some’ and ‘every’.
 Standardized  Dual quantifier universal:
IF there is a basic determiner for each of D and d, THEN these are semantically equivalent to ‘some’ and ‘every’.
 Keywords  quantification, basic determiner
 Domain  syntax, semantics
 Type  no genuine implication; rather: provided that
 Status  achronic
 Quality  absolute
 Basis  unspecified
 Source  Barwise & Cooper 1981: 198 , U10

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Discussion
Counterexamples
Notes
1. Barwise & Cooper propose this rather for consideration than as a strict universal, discussing also the counterexample ‘the one’ and conclude: “U10 would predict that no human language would have basic determiners for each element of such pairs. The proposed universal also predicts that of the sentences below, only (i) and (ii) could be paraphrased as ‘D men left’ for some basic determiner D. i) It is not true that some man didn’t leave. (I.e. every man left.); ii) It is not true that every man didn’t leave. (I.e. some man left.); iii) It is not true that the most men didn’t leave. iv) It is not true that two men didn’t leave. v) Not many men didn’t leave.”2. Note also # 1210.
Comment
Frans Plank · 3 Aug 2006
1. Barwise & Cooper propose this rather for consideration than as a strict universal, discussing also the counterexample 'the one' and conclude: "U10 would predict that no human language would have basic determiners for each element of such pairs. The proposed universal also predicts that of the sentences below, only (i) and (ii) could be paraphrased as 'D men left' for some basic determiner D.
<table class = "textTable".<br><tr>
<td> </td>
<td> i) </td>
<td>It is not true that some man didn't leave. (I.e. every man left.);</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> ii) </td>
<td>It is not true that every man didn't leave. (I.e. some man left.);</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> iii)</td>
<td>It is not true that the most men didn't leave.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> iv)</td>
<td>It is not true that two men didn't leave.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td> v)</td>
<td>Not many men didn't leave."</td>
</tr>
</table>


2. Note also <a class="innerLink" href="browse.php?entry_id=1210"><img src="../img/entry.gif" border="0">.