Michael Johnston, Ph.D.

Post-Doctoral Researcher,
Research Lab for Linguistics and Computation,
Department of Computer Science ,
Volen Center for Complex Systems,
Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254

email: johnston@berry.cs.brandeis.edu

PUBLICATIONS

• with Federica Busa, "Cross-linguistic Semantics for Complex Nominals in the Generative Lexicon". AISB Workshop on Multilinguality in the Lexicon, Sussex, England. 1996.
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• "A Syntax and Semantics for Purposive Adjuncts in HPSG". In Robert Levine and Georgia Green (eds.). Readings in Head-driven Phrase Structure Grammar. (In preparation). 1995.
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• "The Telic/Atelic Distinction and the Individuation of Quantificational Domains". Paper presented at Paris Syntax Semantics Conference, University Paris VII, Jussieu, Paris. 1995.
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• "Semantic Underspecification in Lexical Types: Capturing Polysemy without Lexical Rules." Paper presented at Acquilex Workshop on Lexical Rules. Cambridge, England. 1995.
  
  
• with Branimir Boguraev and James Pustejovsky, "The Acquisition and Interpretation of Complex Nominals". Working Notes of AAAI Spring Symposium on the Representation and Acquisition of Lexical Knowledge. AAAI. 1995.
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• The Role of Aspect in the Composition of Adverbs of Quantification with Temporal Adverbial Clauses. Proceedings of the 25th Meeting of the North-Eastern Linguistics Society (NELS). GLSA, UMASS Amherst. 1994.
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• "When-clauses, Adverbs of quantification, and Focus" Proceedings of the Thirteenth West Coast Conference on Formal Linguistics (WCCFL). Chicago University Press. 1994.
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• "The Syntax and Semantics of Adverbial Adjuncts". Doctoral Dissertation. University of California. Santa Cruz. 1994.
  Available by ftp from ftp.cs.brandeis.edu. The file is pub/research/johnston/mjdiss.ps.gz.
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• "Because-clauses and Negative Polarity Licensing". Proceedings of The Eastern States Conference On Linguistics (ESCOL). 1993. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, New York.
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• "A Definite Clause Grammar for a Fragment of English". Department of Artificial Intelligence Discussion Paper No. 64. 1988. University of Edinburgh.
  

DOCTORAL DISSERTATION ABSTRACT

The Syntax and Semantics of Adverbial Adjuncts

Michael James Robert Johnston

Temporal adverbial clauses headed by the temporal connectives when, before, and after are analyzed as syntactic adjuncts which are basegenerated adjoined to IP or VP. Contra Heinamaki (1978) and De Swart (1991), they are argued to be non-relational. Semantically, they contribute descriptions of intervals within the temporal neighborhood of the eventuality described by their clausal complement. Diesing (1992)'s proposal that the distinction between IP and VP correlates with the distinction between the restriction and nuclear scope is shown to be relevant to adjunct interpretation. The distinction between IP and VP adjunction determines whether the temporal adjunct serves as the restriction or nuclear scope of an adverb of quantification. This account enables the temporal semantics of these expressions to follow from general principles regarding the truth of an eventuality description at an interval and allows when to be given a unified semantics.

Because-clauses and purpose clauses are also adjuncts which may adjoined to IP or VP. They introduce higher-order relations between eventualities. The distinction between IP and VP adjunction accounts for the ambiguity of constructions where they compose with negation and with adverbial quantifiers. In conjunction with the roofing theory of Ladusaw (1992), this account explains the licensing of negative polarity items in these constructions.

In addition to providing an analysis of adverbial adjuncts, this work also has consequences for the syntax/semantics interface. The distinction between IP and VP adjunction of adverbials is shown to be significant for their semantic interpretation. These proposals argue against Rooth (1985)'s theory of association with focus and support Vallduvi (1990)'s claim that intonational focus is not relevant to semantic interpretation. The telic/atelic distinction in aspectual class is shown to determine whether an eventuality description is able to individuate a domain for quantification. The relationship between presupposition and quantificational structure is addressed.


Available by ftp from ftp.cs.brandeis.edu. The file is pub/research/johnston/mjdiss.ps.gz.

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CORE LEXICON PROJECT

The Core Lexicon utilizes and builds on Pustejovsky's theory of the Generative Lexicon. The system is implemented utilizing the TDL (Type Description Language) system developed at DFKI in Saabruecken.

Current Address