Truth without Predication contains an original analysis of the existential there-sentence from a philosophical-linguistic perspective. At its core is the claim that there-sentences' form is distinct from that of ordinary subject–predicate sentences, and that this fundamental difference explains the construction's unusual grammatical and discourse properties. Taking as a point of departure a suggestion made in Strawson's Individuals, this book explores the idea that it is possible to say something true by correctly 'placing' a 'feature', but without involving predication as normally understood.
| Preface |
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vii | |
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1 | (14) |
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There-sentences, existence and the subject-predicate form |
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5 | (1) |
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6 | (1) |
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Placing versus predication |
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7 | (1) |
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8 | (1) |
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Placing features, featuring places: the speech acts of feature-placing |
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9 | (1) |
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10 | (5) |
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15 | (44) |
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Feature-placing in the context of analytical philosophy |
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15 | (20) |
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Characterizing the there-sentence's unusual form |
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35 | (6) |
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There-sentences and the subject-predicate form |
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41 | (7) |
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Existence and feature-placing |
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48 | (6) |
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The speech acts of feature-placing |
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54 | (5) |
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59 | (48) |
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Existentially dependent NPs |
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64 | (23) |
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Quantification and feature-placing |
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87 | (6) |
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Definite determiners in there-sentences |
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93 | (10) |
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There-sentences with proper names |
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103 | (2) |
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Variation in definiteness effects cross-linguistically |
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105 | (2) |
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107 | (11) |
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The locative content of there-sentences |
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107 | (3) |
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To locate is not to predicate: the predicate restriction in feature-placing terms |
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110 | (8) |
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5 The Verb in There-Sentences |
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118 | (10) |
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The interpretation of be in there-sentences |
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118 | (3) |
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121 | (2) |
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123 | (5) |
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6 Negation in There-Sentences |
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128 | (19) |
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No and not; logical negation and the "zero of magnitude" |
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130 | (8) |
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The interaction of scope and polarity sensitivity |
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138 | (6) |
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144 | (3) |
| Conclusion |
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147 | (1) |
| Notes |
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148 | (9) |
| References |
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157 | (7) |
| Index |
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164 | |
Rachel Szekely is an Assistant Professor in the English Department of Long Island University, and a graduate of the Linguistics program of The Graduate Center, CUNY, USA.
