Stage-level/Individual-level Predicates and Aspect
E. Matthew Husband · 2006
Some general questions: • How is the stage-level/individual-level distinction grammatically realized? • What role, if any, does inner aspect play in stative predicates? • How is quantity active in various ontological domains?... and the basic problem: Variable behavior of stage-level/individual-level predicates (Fernald 1999; Kratzer 1995, and see Escandell-Vidal and Leonetti 2002 for a discussion of Spanish). (1) a. Francis is occasionally blond. b. Suddenly, Lynn knew the answer. (2) a. Sam goes jogging after work. b. Hakeem plays basketball for a living. Overview of the talk: • Briefly review the stage-level/individual-level distinction. • Explore an interaction between stage-level/individual-level predicates and inner aspect. • Discuss how quantity structures are related to scalar structure. • Suggest a syntax to reflect the stage-level/individual-level distinction. 1 The stage-level/individual level distinction (3) a. Firemen are altruistic. (individual-level) b. Firemen are available. (stage-level) 1 The examples in (3) demonstrate classic examples of stage-level and individual-level pred-icates (Kratzer, 1995). Two properties of focus today: Spatiotemporal Modification and