Overview

This seminar will provide a comprehensive study of the syntax and semantics of comparative constructions and their relation to other aspects of the grammar, with an eye towards ultimately building a better understanding the principles underlying cross-linguistic variation in the expression of comparison. Topics to be discussed include (but will not necessarily be limited to): comparison, quantification and scope; comparison and negation/negative polarity; comparison, ellipsis and the phrasal/clausal distinction; superlatives; and the syntax/semantics of measurement.

Course requirements

Students who enroll in the course for credit will be required to turn in a research paper at the end of the quarter. You should consult with me on the topic by the end of the seventh week.

Schedule

• September 24
  The semantic foundations (Mostly English)

  • Readings: Von Stechow 1984, Heim 1985, Klein 1980
  • Auxiliary readings: Cresswell 1976, Seuren 1973, Klein 1991
  
  

• October 1
  More on the semantic foundations. The Klein, von Stechow and Heim articles are the crucial ones.

  
  

• October 9
  (CK sick; class will be rescheduled)

  
  

• October 15
  The syntactic foundations (English)

  • Readings: Bresnan 1973, Kennedy 2002, Neeleman et al. 2004, Corver 1997
  
  

• October 22
  Comparison and scope

  • Readings: Heim 2000, Bhatt and Pancheva 2004
  • Auxiliary readings: Gawron 1995, Chapter 1 of my dissertation
  
  

• October 29: NO CLASS
  

  
  

• November 5
  A closer look at the semantics of the comparative clause

  • Readings: Heim 2006, Schwarzschild and Wilkinson
  • Auxiliary readings: Larson 1988
  
  

• November 12
  Comparatives and polarity

  • Readings: Hoeksema 1983
  
  

• November 19
  Less, little and adjectival polarity

  • Readings: Heim 2005, Buring 2007a, 2007b
  • Auxiliary readings: Rullmann 1995, Kennedy 2001
  
  

• November 26
  The phrasal/clausal distinction

  • Readings: Bhatt and Takahashi 2007, Pancheva 2006, Merchant 2006, Kennedy 2007
  • Auxiliary readings: Heim 1985, Hankamer 1973 (CLS paper)