Renaat Declerck

Conditionals : a comprehensive empirical analysis

This book is an extremely detailed and comprehensive examination of conditional sentences in English, using many examples from actual language-use. The syntax and semantics of conditionals (including tense and mood options) and the functions of conditionals in discourse are examined in depth, producing an all-round linguistic view of the subject which contains a wealth of original observations and analyses. Not only linguists specializing in grammar but also those interested in pragmatics and the philosophy of language will find this book a rewarding and illuminating source.

Tense in English : its structure and use in discourse

Tense is one of the most controversial areas of grammar. The problems and interest in the subject have led to an impressive number of books and articles. Yet, despite the amount of work produced, nothing approaching a consensus has emerged, merely a series of conflicting theories and analyses. According to the author, this follows from the fact that until now there has been no theoretical instrument to enable the linguist to interpret the data correctly. This book attempts to provide such a framework. It is not written from the viewpoint of any particular linguistic theory and does not presuppose any knowledge of tense theory.

The pragmatics of it-clefts and WH-clefts

Abstract This article is concerned with the principles that govern the use of it -clefts and WH-clefts in discourse. The main points argued are (a) that both it -clefts and WH-clefts fall apart into three major subtypes, and (b) that, although it -clefts and WH-clefts basically have the same meaning and function, there are many pragmatic factors that may induce the speaker to prefer one type of cleft to another in a particular context. Among these factors the most important seem to be the tendency to process continuous (old) information earlier in the sentence and the tendency to put the focal item or the WH-clause in initial position if it is very short. In the final part of the article attention is drawn to a couple of special types of clefts.

The origins of genericity

This article suggests an answer to the question why certain utterances are interpreted as generic whereas others are not. The author argues that a generic interpretation is not exclusively determined by the semantics of the sentence. Rather it follows from the way in which the semantics are melded with the pragmatics of the context and with the hearers knowledge of the world. It is shown how this happens through the application of a number of pragmatic principles which are determined by Gricean maxims.

The Double System of Tense Forms Referring to Future Time in English

Le systeme des temps en anglais possede deux moyens differents de se referer au temps futur. Les As. examinent ces deux moyens de maniere a les accorder dans une theorie des temps plus generale. Ils proposent une explication pour leurs distributions differentes et examine les differences semantiques de leurs utilisations dans les propositions qui les admettent tous les deux (propositions relatives restrictives)

Two notes on the theory of definiteness

The terms definite and indefinite, when used in relation to NPs, can be handled in two different ways. One can treat definiteness as a formal (syntactico-morphological) category and make use of the syntactic features [±definite], as in Chomsky (1965). One can also go into the question of how definite and indefinite NPs are used, i.e. the question of when and why a (formally) definite NP is preferred to an indefinite one, or vice versa. If we take the latter approach, we are investigating definiteness as a semantico-pragmatic category.

Is there a relative past tense in English

Abstract Traditional analyses of the past tense such as Reichenbachs (1947) and Comries (1985) assign a single semantic structure to the past tense and do not distinguish between absolute and relative past tenses in English. In the present article it is argued that we cannot do without the notion of a relative past tense. Ten empirically based arguments are adduced in support of this. The author also discusses six possible tests to distinguish between absolute and relative past tenses in concrete examples and points out that the analysis has some important theoretical implications. He argues that the distinction between absolute and relative tenses requires a model of the English tense system that is based on the concept of temporal domain, and that the traditional analysis of the meaning of the past tense morpheme (viz. ‘Event time anterior to speech time’) stands in need of qualification.

From Reichenbach (1947) to Comrie (1985) and beyond: Towards a theory of tense

Abstract This paper investigates the meanings of the tenses and the system of time reference in English. It starts from a discussion of the celebrated theory of Reichenbach (1947) and the alternative recently proposed in Comries (1985) book on tense. The author argues that both theories are dificient in certain respects, and develops a theory which both retains the good points from Reichenbach and Comrie and remedies the defects. It is claimed that this theory not only accounts for the use of the various tenses in English (including the often neglected present perfect) but also accounts for the use of the different kinds of temporal adverbials. It is also argued that the theory offers a satisfactory explanation for the phenomena observed in connection with indirect speech and free indirect speech.

The taxonomy and interpretation of clefts and pseudo-clefts☆

Compounds are prepared having the formula WHEREIN THE THIENYL GROUP CAN BE SUBSTITUTED WITH ONE OR MORE LOWER ALKYL GROUPS; THE BRIDGING MEMBER EITHER HAS THE STRUCTURE OR THE STRUCTURE AND R1, R2, R3 and R4 are hydrogen or lower alkyl groups, R5 is hydrogen or hydroxy, R6 and R7 are the same or different and are hydrogen, halogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl, halo lower alkyl, or lower alkoxy and the groups R8 and R9 are the same or different and are hydrogen, hydroxy, lower alkyl or lower alkoxy and the salts thereof. The compounds are pharmacologically active, especially in peripheral and cerebral disorders of blood-flow.

Future time reference expressed by be to in Present-day English

This article argues that be to is primarily a modal auxiliary expressing the necessity of future actualization of the ‘residue-situation’ (= the situation referred to by the clause minus be to ). Eight possible ‘M-origins’ (= origins of the necessity) are identified. The ‘futurish’ use of be to in present-day English is closely related to these modal uses, especially to the use in which the M-origin is an official arrangement. The modal interpretation shifts to a futurish interpretation when the emphasis shifts from the present existence of the necessity to the future actualization of the residue-situation. This shift of emphasis is accompanied by a loss of doubt about this future actualization. In other words, the futurish reading comes to the fore when the (strong or weak) origin of the necessity is bleached, so that the hearers attention is directed to the future actualization of the residue-situation. Various cases of such bleaching are treated. In some cases (e.g. when be to collocates with still or yet , as in He is still to keep the first of his promises ), the bleaching of the M-origin is complete, so that only the sense of futurity (and hence of ‘not-yet-factuality’) is left. In some examples there is no clear difference between be to and will any more, so that the two are interchangeable within the same sentence.