형식의미론에서의 복수 연구

Abstract

In formal semantics or model-theoretic semantics, expressions related to quantity or number, namely the quantificational expressions have been the major focus of interest. In the earlier days of (natural language) formal semantics, only limited types of quantificational expressions could be analyzed. For example, Montague (1973) analyzed only singluar expressions such as every man, a girl, no boy, and the unicorn. Since then, there have been various attempts to extend the formal (model theoretic) semantic analysis to plurals such as men and boys. Bennett`s (1974) analysis, the first attempt of such, was based on the notion of `set` and had its own problerns. Later, Link`s (1983) lattice-theoretical model could provide a more satisfactory analyis. In this paper, after briefly examining the problems in Bennett`s model, I survey the characteristics and the developments of the lattice-model of plural semantics which was initiated by Link. The related problems of collectivity/distributivity, mass terms, and events are touched upon, too.