Quantifier Scope as a Diagnostic for the Position of Arguments of Ditransitive Verbs

This study tested the argument structure of ditransitives in Polish using quantifier scope interpretation. The experiment results showed that only the DO-IO order allowed for scope ambiguity, but to a different degree depending on the semantic class of the verb, which indicates that the merge position of objects is contingent upon that factor.

The study presented in this book aimed to test the argument structure of ditransitive verbs in Polish with the use of quantifier scope interpretation. Since these verbs typically allow for relatively free object order, it is not clear whether any of the object orders is basic or if they constitute separate underlying structures. The study reports the results of five experiments testing acceptability of scope interpretation of Polish quantified objects in two object orders, using variables such as coordination, to reveal which scope changing mechanism is responsible for ambiguity. The results showed that only the DO-IO order allowed for scope ambiguity, however, to a different degree depending on the semantic class of the verb. This indicates that the merge position of objects is contingent upon that factor.

Autorentext

Paulina ska is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of English of Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznä. She was involved in two research projects funded by the Polish National Science Centre, one investigating Polish nominal phrases (2014-2017) and the other examining the properties of dative arguments (2015-). She was awarded Adam Mickiewicz University Vice-Chancellor's scholarship in years 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, and Adam Mickiewicz University Foundation Scholarship for best PhD students in 2018/2019.

Inhalt

The English dative alternation debate - Object order in Slavic ditransitive verbs - Quantifier scope and its correlation with scrambling - Scope changing mechanisms: Quantifier Raising and scope reconstruction - Testing scope interpretation in experiments - Ditransitive verb classes and two merge positions of the indirect object -