The Semantics of Imperatives
Chris Fox · 2015
This chapter considers how imperatives may be combined with each other, and with propositions. It explains how the meaning of the more complex imperative relates to the constituent expressions in examples presented here. The chapter reviews some of the conundrums and paradoxes presented in the literature, and preexisting analyses of imperatives. It focuses on issues that need to be considered by any proposed semantic account of imperatives as commands. The chapter examines issues that need to be considered by any proposed semantic account of imperatives as commands. It also deals with some existing accounts, including Lewis's modal account, accounts that adopt and adapt some form of modal subordination analysis, those that deal explicitly with actions, and dynamic accounts, that consider the impact imperatives have on discourse participants. The chapter advocates a proof-theoretic methodology for formulating intuitions about imperatives.