Why quantifiers float: A response to Kim (2013)

Park, Chongwon; Yeon, Jaehoon

Abstract

The aim of this discussion article is twofold. First, we critically review Jong-Bok Kim’s (2013) proposal [Floated numeral classifiers in Korean: A non-derivational, functional account. Lingua 133, 189–212], articulating the strengths and weaknesses of his approach. Second, after identifying some crucial weaknesses of Kim’s proposal, we offer an alternative analysis of floated quantifiers (FQs), while maintaining the same goal set by Kim (2013). In doing so, we point out several challenges Kim’s analysis faces, primarily the adoption of the theme-rheme partition. We demonstrate that the theme-rheme division is orthogonal to the focus property FQs exhibit. Ultimately, we show that our criticism strengthens Kim’s analysis, as opposed to contradicting it.

Citation

Park, C., & Yeon, J. (2022). Why quantifiers float: A response to Kim (2013). Lingua: An International Review of General Linguistics, 277, Article 103403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2022.103403

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 14, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Aug 20, 2022
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2022
• Deposit Date: Aug 22, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 22, 2022
• Print ISSN: 0024-3841
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-6135
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 277
• Article Number: 103403
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lingua.2022.103403
• Keywords: Activation cost, Focus of attention, Floated quantifiers (FQs), Theme-rheme partition, Unaccusative/unergative asymmetry
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002438412200167X
• Additional Information: Data Access Statement : No data was used for the research described in the article.