1 d1ai1ii in thai: how a tenseless language may communicate past time kasia jaszczolt and jiranthara...

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D1ai1IID1ai1II in Thai: in Thai:

How a Tenseless Language May How a Tenseless Language May Communicate Past TimeCommunicate Past Time

Kasia Jaszczolt and Jiranthara SrioutaiKasia Jaszczolt and Jiranthara SrioutaiUniversity of CambridgeUniversity of Cambridge

ThirdThird International Conference in Contrastive Semantics and International Conference in Contrastive Semantics and Pragmatics,Pragmatics,

Shanghai, 16-18 September 2005Shanghai, 16-18 September 2005

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Construction of utterance meaningConstruction of utterance meaning

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Construction of utterance meaningConstruction of utterance meaning Sources of utterance meaningSources of utterance meaning

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Construction of utterance meaningConstruction of utterance meaning Sources of utterance meaningSources of utterance meaning Merger representationsMerger representations

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Construction of utterance meaningConstruction of utterance meaning Sources of utterance meaningSources of utterance meaning Merger representationsMerger representations Application of merger representations to Application of merger representations to

expressions of futurityexpressions of futurity

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D1ai1IID1ai1II in Thai: past tense or modal in Thai: past tense or modal marker?marker?

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D1ai1IID1ai1II and word order and word order

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D1ai1IID1ai1II and word order and word order Unified account of Unified account of d1ai1II d1ai1II as a modal as a modal

markermarker (p (pastness carried by the default astness carried by the default interpretation of the modal marker)interpretation of the modal marker)

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D1ai1IID1ai1II and word order and word order Unified account of Unified account of d1ai1II d1ai1II as a modal as a modal

markermarker (p (pastness carried by the default astness carried by the default interpretation of the modal marker)interpretation of the modal marker)

The need for pragmatics-rich The need for pragmatics-rich representations for languages with representations for languages with optional marking of temporalityoptional marking of temporality

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(1)(1) John isn’t good enough.John isn’t good enough.

(2)(2) Everybody went to London.Everybody went to London.

(3)(3) I haven’t eaten.I haven’t eaten.

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Truth-conditional pragmatics (Recanati Truth-conditional pragmatics (Recanati 2003, 2004): truth value is predicated of 2003, 2004): truth value is predicated of an utterance – an utterance – what is saidwhat is said by the by the speaker.speaker.

Problem: Problem: degreedegree of the contextual of the contextual contribution (contribution (quasi-contextualismquasi-contextualism and and contextualismcontextualism))

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Default Semantics (Jaszczolt 2005)Default Semantics (Jaszczolt 2005)

Sources of utterance meaning:Sources of utterance meaning:

(a)(a) word meaning and sentence structureword meaning and sentence structure

(b)(b) conscious pragmatic inferenceconscious pragmatic inference

(c)(c) cognitive defaultscognitive defaults

(d)(d) social-cultural defaultssocial-cultural defaults

combination of word meaning

and sentence structure

conscious pragmatic inference1

-cultural defaults1

cognitive defaults

social-cultural defaults2


Fig. 1

Compositionalmerger representation

Stage I





cognitive defaults

Stage II



compositional

merger representation

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Default Semantics uses an adapted Default Semantics uses an adapted and extended language of DRT and and extended language of DRT and applies it to the output of the merger applies it to the output of the merger of these sources of meaning.of these sources of meaning.

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(1) Mary will go to the opera tomorrow night.(1) Mary will go to the opera tomorrow night.(regular future)(regular future)

(2) Mary is going to the opera tomorrow (2) Mary is going to the opera tomorrow night. night. (futurative progressive)(futurative progressive)

(3) Mary goes to the opera tomorrow night.(3) Mary goes to the opera tomorrow night.

( ‘tenseless future’, Dowty 1979)( ‘tenseless future’, Dowty 1979)

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Other modal uses of Other modal uses of willwill::

(4)(4)Mary will be in the opera now. Mary will be in the opera now. (epistemic necessity)(epistemic necessity)

(5)(5)Mary will sometimes go to the Mary will sometimes go to the opera opera in her tracksuit. in her tracksuit.

(dispositional necessity)(dispositional necessity)

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AccAcc – modal operator, ‘it is (rationally) – modal operator, ‘it is (rationally)

acceptable that’ (Grice 2001)acceptable that’ (Grice 2001)

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Acc Acc ￂￂ pp ‘it is acceptable that it is the ‘it is acceptable that it is the case case that that pp’’

Stage I





cognitive defaults

Stage II



Fig. 1

compositional

merger representation

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tenseless future

x t e [Mary]CD (x) tomorrow night (t) [ACC

tf e]WS, CPI 1

e: [x go to the opera]WS

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dispositional necessity will

x t e [Mary]CD (x) sometimes (t) [ACCΔ

rf e]WS, CPI 1

e: [x go to the opera in x’s tracksuit ]WS

s〚Pt1,…,tn〛s'M iff s = s' and {〚t1〛M,s,…, 〚tn〛M,s} I(P)

So,

s〚ACCn e〛s'

M iff s= s' and

i. 〚e〛M,s I(ACCn)

ii. ACCn {[ACC

n]CD , [ACCn]CPI}

iii. = ├

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Possible uses of Possible uses of d1ai1IId1ai1II

(1) m3ae:r3i:I d1ai1II c1otm3a:y (1) m3ae:r3i:I d1ai1II c1otm3a:y l3ae:wIIl3ae:wII

Mary get letter alreadyMary get letter already

Mary already got the letter.Mary already got the letter.

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(2) K1r3eml3in d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: (2) K1r3eml3in d1ai1II c1ap ng3u:

Gremlin Gremlin d1ai1IId1ai1II catch snake catch snake

(i) Gremlin (i) Gremlin was able to catchwas able to catch a snake a snake (had a chance to and did catch).(had a chance to and did catch).

(ii) Gremlin (ii) Gremlin had an opportunity to catch had an opportunity to catch a snake (might not have caught).a snake (might not have caught).

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(3) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II(3) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II

Gremlin catch snake Gremlin catch snake d1ai1IId1ai1II

(i) Gremlin (i) Gremlin was able to catchwas able to catch a snake a snake (had ability to and did catch).(had ability to and did catch).

(ii) Gremlin (ii) Gremlin can catchcan catch a snake (deontic a snake (deontic or dynamic possibility).or dynamic possibility).

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(4) k1r3eml3in m3ai1I d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: (4) k1r3eml3in m3ai1I d1ai1II c1ap ng3u:

Gremlin notGremlin not d1ai1IId1ai1II catch snake catch snake

(i) Gremlin (i) Gremlin was not able to catchwas not able to catch a snake (did a snake (did not try to catch).not try to catch).

(ii) Gremlin (ii) Gremlin did notdid not have the opportunity to have the opportunity to catchcatch a snake. a snake.

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(5) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: m3ai1I d1ai1II(5) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: m3ai1I d1ai1II

Gremlin catch snake not Gremlin catch snake not d1ai1IId1ai1II

(i) Gremlin (i) Gremlin was not able to catchwas not able to catch a snake a snake (tried but failed to catch).(tried but failed to catch).

(ii) Gremlin (ii) Gremlin cannot catchcannot catch a snake (deontic a snake (deontic or dynamic possibility).or dynamic possibility).

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Previous treatments of Previous treatments of d1ai1IId1ai1II Supanvanich (1973) and Kanchanawan Supanvanich (1973) and Kanchanawan

(1978): (1978): D1ai1IID1ai1II in the verb-initial position = past- in the verb-initial position = past-

time marker.time marker.

(2’) (2’) k1r3eml3in d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: k1r3eml3in d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: Gremlin Gremlin d1ai1IId1ai1II catch snake catch snake Gremlin caught a snake.Gremlin caught a snake.

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Previous treatments of Previous treatments of d1ai1IId1ai1II Kanchanawan (1978) and Maunsuwan (2002):Kanchanawan (1978) and Maunsuwan (2002):

D1ai1IID1ai1II in the verb-final position = modal in the verb-final position = modal marker similar to dynamic and deontic marker similar to dynamic and deontic cancan in English.in English.

(3’)(3’) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1IIk1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II


Gremlin can catch a snake.Gremlin can catch a snake.

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Reviews of previous Reviews of previous treatments of treatments of d1ai1IId1ai1II Supanvanich (1973): Supanvanich (1973): D1ai1IID1ai1II’s modal ’s modal

meanings unaccounted for.meanings unaccounted for.

Maunsuwan (2002): Maunsuwan (2002): D1ai1IID1ai1II’s ’s temporal meanings unaccounted for.temporal meanings unaccounted for.

Kanchanawan (1978): most Kanchanawan (1978): most explanatorily adequate.explanatorily adequate.

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Grice (1978)Grice (1978)

Modified Occam’s Razor: Modified Occam’s Razor:

Senses (linguistic meanings) are not to Senses (linguistic meanings) are not to be multiplied beyond necessity.be multiplied beyond necessity.

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Srioutai (2005):Srioutai (2005):

d1ai1IId1ai1II = a modal marker that comes = a modal marker that comes by default with the past time by default with the past time interpretationinterpretation

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In the verb-initial position: In the verb-initial position: dynamic modalitydynamic modality

(2) K1r3eml3in d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: (2) K1r3eml3in d1ai1II c1ap ng3u:

Gremlin Gremlin d1ai1IId1ai1II catch snake catch snake

(i) Gremlin (i) Gremlin was able to catchwas able to catch a snake a snake (had a chance to and did catch).(had a chance to and did catch).

(ii) Gremlin (ii) Gremlin had an opportunity to catch had an opportunity to catch a snake (might not have caught).a snake (might not have caught).

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In the verb-final position: In the verb-final position: deontic or dynamic modalitydeontic or dynamic modality

(3) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II(3) k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II


(i) Gremlin (i) Gremlin was able to catchwas able to catch a snake a snake (had ability to and did catch).(had ability to and did catch).

(ii) Gremlin (ii) Gremlin can catchcan catch a snake (deontic a snake (deontic or dynamic possibility).or dynamic possibility).

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Temporal defaults: more salientTemporal defaults: more salient and and no evid no evid ence of CPI ence of CPI 1 1

• (6)(6) (a)A: k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II(a)A: k1r3eml3in c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II Gremlin catch snake Gremlin catch snake d1ai1IId1ai1II

(i) Gremlin can catch a snake (A’s intended meaning).(i) Gremlin can catch a snake (A’s intended meaning).(ii) Gremlin was able to catch a snake (B’s recovered meaning).(ii) Gremlin was able to catch a snake (B’s recovered meaning).

(b) B: n3ai1 ng3u: (b) B: n3ai1 ng3u: where snake where snake

Where is the snake?Where is the snake?

• (c) A: k1r3eml3in m3ai1 d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: (c) A: k1r3eml3in m3ai1 d1ai1II c1ap ng3u: Gremlin not Gremlin not d1ai1IId1ai1II catch snake catch snake

Gremlin did not have the opportunity to catch a snake.Gremlin did not have the opportunity to catch a snake.

• (d) A: k1r3eml3in s2a:m3a:t c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II(d) A: k1r3eml3in s2a:m3a:t c1ap ng3u: d1ai1II Gremlin can catch snake Gremlin can catch snake d1ai1IId1ai1II

Gremlin can catch a snake.Gremlin can catch a snake.

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Merger representationsMerger representations

The default meaning of The default meaning of d1ai1IId1ai1II

• x t n e

•[k1r3eml3in]CD (x)•[ACC∆ e]WS

•∆ = ├•[t < n]WS, CD

•e: [x c1ap ng3u:]WS

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Merger representationsMerger representations

A non-default meaning of A non-default meaning of d1ai1IId1ai1II

• x t n e

•[k1r3eml3in]CD (x)•[ACC∆ e]WS

•∆ = ├•[t = n]WS, CPI 1

•e: [x c1ap ng3u:]WS

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ConclusionsConclusions

Pastness in Thai may but need not be Pastness in Thai may but need not be carried by the modal marker carried by the modal marker d1ai1IId1ai1II..

In Thai, where neither tense nor aspect In Thai, where neither tense nor aspect markers are obligatory, semantic analysis markers are obligatory, semantic analysis has to make use of default interpretations has to make use of default interpretations and results of CPI 1.and results of CPI 1.

This can be well accounted for in the This can be well accounted for in the framework of Default Semantics.framework of Default Semantics.

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Select referencesSelect referencesBiber, D. et. al. (1999) Biber, D. et. al. (1999) Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written

English. English. London: Longman.London: Longman. Diller, A. (1996) ‘Thai and Lao Writing.’ In: Peter T. Daniels and Diller, A. (1996) ‘Thai and Lao Writing.’ In: Peter T. Daniels and William Bright (eds.), William Bright (eds.), The World’s Writing SystemsThe World’s Writing Systems. New York: . New York: Oxford University Press, pp.457-466.Oxford University Press, pp.457-466.Grice, H.P. (1978) ‘Further notes on logic and conversation’. In: Grice, H.P. (1978) ‘Further notes on logic and conversation’. In: P. P. Cole (ed.) Cole (ed.) Syntax and SemanticsSyntax and Semantics, vol. 9, New York: , vol. 9, New York: Academic Academic Press. Press. Grice, P. (2001) Grice, P. (2001) Aspects of ReasonAspects of Reason. Ed. by R. Warner. Oxford: . Ed. by R. Warner. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Clarendon Press.Grice, P. 2001. Grice, P. 2001. Aspects of ReasonAspects of Reason. Ed. By R. . Ed. By R. Warner. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Warner. Oxford: Clarendon Press.Jaszczolt, K. M. 2003. ‘The modality of the future: A Default-Jaszczolt, K. M. 2003. ‘The modality of the future: A Default-Semantics account’. In P. Dekker and R. van Rooy (eds). Semantics account’. In P. Dekker and R. van Rooy (eds). Proceedings of the 14Proceedings of the 14thth Amsterdam Colloquium. Amsterdam Colloquium. ILLC, ILLC, University of Amsterdam. 43-48.University of Amsterdam. 43-48.

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Select references (continued)Select references (continued)Jaszczolt, K. M. 2005. Jaszczolt, K. M. 2005. Default Semantics: Foundations of a Default Semantics: Foundations of a Compositional Compositional Theory of Acts of CommunicationTheory of Acts of Communication. Oxford: . Oxford: OUP.OUP.Kamp, H. and U. Reyle. 1993. Kamp, H. and U. Reyle. 1993. From Discourse to LogicFrom Discourse to Logic. Dordrecht: . Dordrecht:

Kluwer.Kluwer.Kamp, H., J. van Genabith & U. Reyle. forthcoming. ‘Discourse Kamp, H., J. van Genabith & U. Reyle. forthcoming. ‘Discourse Representation Representation Theory’. In: Theory’. In: Handbook of Philosophical Logic.Handbook of Philosophical Logic.Kanchanawan, N. 1978.Kanchanawan, N. 1978. Expression for Time in Thai Verb and its Expression for Time in Thai Verb and its

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Muansuwan, N. 2002.Muansuwan, N. 2002. Verb Complexes in Thai. Verb Complexes in Thai. Ph.D. Dissertation. Ph.D. Dissertation. University at University at Buffalo, State University of New York.Buffalo, State University of New York.

Recanati, F. 2003. Recanati, F. 2003. Literal MeaningLiteral Meaning. Cambridge: CUP.. Cambridge: CUP. Scovel, T. S. 1970 Scovel, T. S. 1970.. A Grammar of Time in Thai. A Grammar of Time in Thai. Ph.D. Dissertation. Ph.D. Dissertation.

The The University of Texas at Austin. University of Texas at Austin.Srioutai, J. 2005.Srioutai, J. 2005. ‘D1ai1II and kh3oe:y: Are they past time markers ‘D1ai1II and kh3oe:y: Are they past time markers in in Thai?’ Thai?’ [unpublished work][unpublished work]Supanvanich, I. 1973.Supanvanich, I. 1973. Tenses in Thai. Tenses in Thai. Master’s Thesis. Master’s Thesis. Chulalongkorn Chulalongkorn University. [In Thai]University. [In Thai]

1 d1ai1ii in thai: how a tenseless language may communicate past time kasia jaszczolt and jiranthara...

Documents

modal marker slide

sources of utterance

word order d1ai1ii

modal marker pastness

construction of utterance

word order slide

contextualism slide

expressions of futurity