Plurality and distributivity across human languages: the case of Karitiana

• Grant number: 11/10483-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2011
• End date: March 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Linguistic Theory and Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lucia de Paula Muller
• Grantee: Ana Lucia de Paula Muller
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Luciana Raccanello Storto ; Roberta Pires de Oliveira

Abstract

This project focuses on the expression of plurality and distributivity across human languages under the paradigm of theoretical linguistics, within the framework of formal semantics. The theoretical problem to be tackled is the relation between plurality and ditributivity within natural languages. More specifically, we face the question of whether distributivity is a mere consequence of plurality or if plurality and distributivity are distinct phenomena and imply distinct semantic operations. The project will investigate this question in Karitiana, a native Brazilian language of the Tupi family. The empirical goal of the project is the description of the semantics of plurality and distributivity in Karitiana. (AU)