Found:
Monotonicity
SEMANTICS: determiners (and quantifiers) can be classified according
to their monotonicity-properties. A determiner D in a sentence of the form
[S [NP D CN] VP] establishes a relation between the interpretations of CN and
VP taken as sets of individuals. The monotonicity-properties of D can be found
by extending or restricting the interpretations of CN and VP, and checking whether
the resulting sentence is still true. Left upward/downward monotonicity deals
with the extension/restriction of CN; right upward/downward monotonicity
deals with the extension/restriction of VP. Left upward monotonicity is often
called Persistence and left downward monotonicity Antipersistence;
right monotonicity is then simply called monotonicity.
LIT. | Barwise, J. & R. Cooper (1981) Gamut, L.T.F. (1991) |