For our next class (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving break), please read the excerpt from David Dowty’s Word Meaning and Montague Grammar (section 2.2, pgs. 51-71). Â In our final classes, we will look at some issues in the lexical semantics of verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Â The Dowty excerpt discusses certain basic distinctions that can be made amongst verb meanings, as well as tests for classifying verb meanings along various parameters.
(UPDATE: Â Given certain changes to our class schedule, section 2.2.6 (pgs. 62-65) are no longer relevant. Â So you may safely skip this section. Â But be sure to have a look at section 2.2.7.)
The Dowty excerpt is available in the password-protected “Readings” section of the website.