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Assessing the modality particles of the Yi group in fuzzy possible-worlds semantics

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Abstract

Of late, evidentiality has received great attention in formal semantics. In this paper I develop ‘evidentiality-informed’ truth conditions for modal operators such as must and may. With language data drawn from Luoping Nase (a Tibeto-Burman language spoken in the P.R. of China and belonging to the Yi Nationality), I illustrate that epistemic modals clash with clauses articulating first-hand information. I then demonstrate that existing models such as Kratzer’s graded possible-worlds semantics fail to provide accurate truth conditions for modals tagging clauses with first-hand information. As a remedy I propose a fuzzy version of possible-worlds semantics with various grades of belief and knowledge. In addition to preserving the expressive power of graded possible-worlds semantics, the fuzzy model will be shown to supply appropriate truth conditions for epistemic modals appended to evidential clauses (i.e. clauses expressing first-hand information).

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Abbreviations

1P SG:

First person singular

1P SG LOG:

First person singular logophoric

2P SG:

Second person singular

3P PL:

Third person plural

3P SG:

Third person singular

ART:

Article

CL:

Classifier

CONJ:

Conjunction

CONJ:if:

Conjunction with gloss

COV:

Coverb

COV:at:

Coverb with verbal origin

COV:use:

Coverb with verbal origin

DEM:

Demonstrative

DEM:PROX:

Demonstrative: proximal to Speaker

DP:

Dynamic perfect

EXP:

Experiential aspect

FEAR:

Attitude particle of fear

FUT:

Future

LOC:

Location

LOC:outside:

Location particle with gloss

NEG:

Negation

NEG IMP:

Negative Imperative

NESS:

Necessity

NP:

Noun Phrase

NUM:

Numeral

NUM:9:

Numeral with its value

PASS:

Passive

POSS:

Possibility

PROG:

Progressive Aspect

QUANT:

Quantifier

QUANT:all:

Quantifier with gloss

QUOT:

Quotative

SENT TOP:

Sentence Topic

SUFF:

Suffix

TAM:

Tense Aspect Modality

WISH:

Attitude particle of wish

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Gerner, M. Assessing the modality particles of the Yi group in fuzzy possible-worlds semantics. Linguist and Philos 32, 143–184 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10988-009-9057-2

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