7.5 Arguments and entailments

On the basis of consistency, we stated that the number of arguments of a logical predicate should always be the same. But we also want to correctly represent existential entailments.

This means that SOME verbs can't be translated with one predicate.

Wrong

Natasha kicked Boris.

${kick}(n,b)$

Natasha kicked.

$\exists x \: kick(n,\: x)$

Right

Natasha kicked Boris.
${kick/2}(n,b)$
Natasha kicked.	(Natasha could be doing a chorus line kick.)
${kick/1}(n)$

Why

	Existential entailment
John ate	$\Rightarrow$	John ate something.
John kicked	$\not\Rightarrow$	John kicked something.
John replied	$\Rightarrow$	John replied to something/someone.

Another example:

(a)		Fred burned the house.
(b)	#	Fred burned.	Fred not filling the same role!
(c)		The house was burned by Fred.	Same meaning as (a)?
(d)		The house was burned.	Same relation as (a)?
(e)		The house burned.	Same relation as (a)?

Should we use the same relation in (a), (d) and (e)? This question is answered by asking if

And if:

Here's another interesting fact. Consider purpose clauses:

John went into town (in order) to buy some bubble gum.

Purpose clauses usually require some rational entity capable of purpose in context in order to be interpreted. Consider:

(f) The house was burned to collect the insurance.
(g) # The house burned to collect the insurance.

Other verbs like burn:

	English causative alternation
heat	The soup heated. John heated the soup.
cool	The soup cooled. John cooled the soup.
break	The vase broke. John broke the vase.
move	The lid moved. John moved the lid.
wiggle	John's toe wiggled. John wiggled his toe (in greeting).

Conclusions

1. The English causative alternation is productive and is distinct from object-drop in that the subject role changes!
   

   Object drop

   John ate the pretzel.	John is eater
   John ate	John is eater

   Causative

   John broke the pretzel.	John is breaker
   The pretzel broke.	The pretzel is eaten

   Which?

   John turned the statue.
   John turned.

   Which?

   John cooked the eggs.
   The eggs cooked (for 3 minutes).
   John cooked. (unlike most of his male friends)

   Which?

   John hammered the nail.
   John hammered (away).

2. Object drop usually gives rise to an existential entailment, but some verbs do object drop with no existential entailment (kick).
3. The intransitive verbs in the causative alternation generally do NOT have an existential entailment:

   

4. Passives generally have an existential entailment:
   

   John ate the pretzels.