Towards the Semantics of Sentence Adverbials

TOWAR/S THE SEI~ANTICS OF S!NTENCE AYVERBIALS Eva Koktov~ 9. kv~tna 1576 39001 T~bor, Czechoslovakia ABSTRACT In the present paper we argue that the so-called sentence adverbials (typically, adverbs like probably, admittedly,...) should be generated, in the framework of Functional Generative Description, by means of a special deep case - Complementation of Attitude (CA) on grounds of their special behaviour in the topic-focus articulation (TFA) of a sentence. From the viewpoint of the translation of CA expressions (and also of the multiple occurrence thereof inside a sentence) into a calculus of intensional logic, it should be noted that the TFA properties of CA expressions are directly correlated to the scope properties thereof. Our approach, which is stated in terms of a lir~istic theory, serves as a basis for an algorithm of analysis of CA for purposes of a system of man-machine communication without a pro-arranged data base. positions of the occurrence of negation. As negation only slightly differs in its distribution on the surface, there is raised a proposal according to which negation (and other minority group adverbs with similar properties) should be generated as a case of CA. CA (including negation and other minority group adverbs) is defined in FCD by its position in the underlying basic ordering of complementations; presumably, it occupies the leftmost, i.e. the communicatively least dynamic position. The TFA properties of CA (also on its multiple occurrence inside a sentence) should be taken into account also in the translation of CA expressions into a calculus of intensional logic because they are directly correlated to the scope properties thereof. The TFA distinctions which are reflected on the surface serve es clues for an algorithm of analysis of CA expressions in written technical texts for purposes of a question answering system without a pre-arranged data base. I INTRODUCTION In the present paper we argue that the so-called sentence adverbials (typically, adverbs like probabl~, admittedl2,... ) as well as certain minority group adverbs (such as especially, also, not, even,...) should be generated-~-in-~ framework of Functional Generative Description (henceforth, FGD), by means of a new complementation (functor, deep case), namely Complementation of Attitude (henceforth, CA). We argue that in the underlying structure of a sentence, CA can occupy several positions in the topic-focus articulation (henceforth, TFA) of a sentence, which coincide with the II THEORETICAL BACKGROUND A. General Issues FCD is a multilevel system; it consists of a sequence of five levels which are connected by the asymmetrical relation of form and function, which accomts for the phencmen~ of homonymy and synonymy in natural language. The description of a sentence is equivalent to a sequence of its representations on all levels. The difference between the level of (strict, literal, linguistic) meaning (i.e. the underlying, 74 or tectogr~mmatical level - a level of disambiguated linguistic expressions) and the level of surface syntax, being parallel to the difference which is made in transformational grammar between the levels of deep and surface structure, constitutes the strong ~ enerative power of the FGD system; …

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