Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature
Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other
Theories

C 2025

Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other Theories

GOTZNER, Nicole a Radim LACINA

Základní údaje

Originální název

Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other Theories

Autoři

GOTZNER, Nicole (276 Německo) a Radim LACINA (203 Česká republika, garant, domácí)

Vydání

Cham (Switzerland), Alternatives in Grammar and Cognition, od s. 13-38, 26 s. Palgrave Studies in Pragmatics, Language and Cognition, 2025

Nakladatel

Palgrave Macmillan

Další údaje

Jazyk

angličtina

Typ výsledku

Kapitola resp. kapitoly v odborné knize

Obor

60203 Linguistics

Stát vydavatele

Švýcarsko

Utajení

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Forma vydání

tištěná verze "print"

Odkazy

URL

Organizační jednotka

Filozofická fakulta

ISBN

978-3-031-76675-6

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76676-3_2

Klíčová slova anglicky

alternatives; focus; scalar implicature; contextual restriction; asymmetric entailment; antonyms

Štítky

rivok

Příznaky

Mezinárodní význam, Recenzováno

Změněno: 25. 6. 2025 10:33, Mgr. et Mgr. Stanislav Hasil

Anotace

V originále

This paper discusses the connection between the generation and selection of alternatives in the domain of focus and scalar implicature. We argue that the mechanism for constructing alternatives needs to be separated from the inferential process itself. Taking inspiration from the work on the activation of focus alternatives (e.g., Gotzner, 2017), we propose an analogous Alternative Activation Account for scalar implicature. We review experimental evidence suggesting that initially a broad cohort of elements is activated for focus and scalar alternatives. Crucially, non-entailed alternatives are included in this initial as a result of how our brain organizes information in semantic networks. Later during incremental sentence comprehension, the initial set is narrowed down to those alternatives that are relevant for inference computation. We discuss whether the same kinds of alternatives feature in the case of focus and different scalar expressions such as quantifiers and gradable adjectives. Finally, we point out key test cases for future research to tackle the nature of alternatives and the mechanisms underlying scalar implicature computation.

Citovat

GOTZNER, Nicole a Radim LACINA. Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other Theories. In Gotzner, Nicole; Harris, Jesse A.; Breheny, Richard; Sharvit, Yael. Alternatives in Grammar and Cognition. Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, 2025, s. 13-38. Palgrave Studies in Pragmatics, Language and Cognition. ISBN 978-3-031-76675-6. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76676-3_2.

@inbook{2481360,
   author = {Gotzner, Nicole and Lacina, Radim},
   address = {Cham (Switzerland)},
   booktitle = {Alternatives in Grammar and Cognition},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76676-3_2},
   editor = {Gotzner, Nicole; Harris, Jesse A.; Breheny, Richard; Sharvit, Yael},
   keywords = {alternatives; focus; scalar implicature; contextual restriction; asymmetric entailment; antonyms},
   howpublished = {tištěná verze "print"},
   language = {eng},
   location = {Cham (Switzerland)},
   isbn = {978-3-031-76675-6},
   pages = {13-38},
   publisher = {Palgrave Macmillan},
   title = {Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other Theories},
   url = {http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-76676-3_2},
   year = {2025}
}

TY  - CHAP
ID  - 2481360
AU  - Gotzner, Nicole - Lacina, Radim
PY  - 2025
TI  - Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other Theories
VL  - Palgrave Studies in Pragmatics, Language and Cognition
PB  - Palgrave Macmillan
CY  - Cham (Switzerland)
SN  - 9783031766756
KW  - alternatives
KW  - focus
KW  - scalar implicature
KW  - contextual restriction
KW  - asymmetric entailment
KW  - antonyms
UR  - http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-76676-3_2
N2  - This paper discusses the connection between the generation and selection of alternatives in the domain of focus and scalar implicature. We argue that the mechanism for constructing alternatives needs to be separated from the inferential process itself. Taking inspiration from the work on the activation of focus alternatives (e.g., Gotzner, 2017), we propose an analogous Alternative Activation Account for scalar implicature. We review experimental evidence suggesting that initially a broad cohort of elements is activated for focus and scalar alternatives. Crucially, non-entailed alternatives are included in this initial as a result of how our brain organizes information in semantic networks. Later during incremental sentence comprehension, the initial set is narrowed down to those alternatives that are relevant for inference computation. We discuss whether the same kinds of alternatives feature in the case of focus and different scalar expressions such as quantifiers and gradable adjectives. Finally, we point out key test cases for future research to tackle the nature of alternatives and the mechanisms underlying scalar implicature computation.
ER  -

GOTZNER, Nicole a Radim LACINA. Generating and Selecting Alternatives for Scalar Implicature Computation : The Alternative Activation Account and Other Theories. In Gotzner, Nicole; Harris, Jesse A.; Breheny, Richard; Sharvit, Yael. \textit{Alternatives in Grammar and Cognition}. Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, 2025, s.~13-38. Palgrave Studies in Pragmatics, Language and Cognition. ISBN~978-3-031-76675-6. Dostupné z: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-76676-3\_{}2.

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