Penumbral connections in comparative constructions

摘要

This paper gives a novel analysis of the logical structure underlying three classes of vague adjectival predicates (relative adjectives, i.e., tall; total adjectives, i.e., straight; and partial adjectives, i.e., wet) and the realisation of this structure in arguments formed with comparative constructions (i.e., John is taller than Mary). I analyse three classes of valid arguments that can be formed with different types of gradable predicates in comparative constructions: scalarity arguments (i.e., Mary is taller than John and John is tall :. Mary is tall), maximality arguments (i.e., Stick A is straighter than Stick B :. Stick B is not straight), and evaluativity arguments (i.e., This towel is wetter than that towel :. this towel is wet) I show how a previously proposed multi-valued logical system (called Delineation TCS; see Burnett, 2012b, 2013) based on the trivalent framework of Cobreros, Egr6, Ripley and van Rooij (2012) can be used to model the reasoning patterns described in the paper. In this system, we derive the scalarity, maximality and evaluativity properties of different classes of adjectives from statements about the properties of cognitive indifference relations associated with these predicates. I therefore conclude that systems such as DelTCS give us valuable insight into the relationship between cognitive judgements of indifference and reasoning patterns with scalar terms.