SOME MEANS OF SOME MEANS OF EXPRESSINGEXPRESSING

THE DISTRIBUTIVE- THE DISTRIBUTIVE-COLLECTIVE OPPOSITION COLLECTIVE OPPOSITION

IN SERBIANIN SERBIAN

Veran Stanojevic & Veran Stanojevic &

Tijana AsicTijana Asic

BECICI, 2008.BECICI, 2008.

THE D-C OPPOSITIONTHE D-C OPPOSITION

The opposition The opposition ddistributive-collectiveistributive-collective concerns two different ways of attributing concerns two different ways of attributing properties denoted by a predicate to a properties denoted by a predicate to a plural NP. If the property in question is plural NP. If the property in question is attributed to each of the elements of the set attributed to each of the elements of the set denoted by a plural NP, the interpretation is denoted by a plural NP, the interpretation is distributivedistributive, whereas if it is attributed to all , whereas if it is attributed to all these elements taken as a group, the these elements taken as a group, the interpretation is called interpretation is called collectivecollective..

Ambivalent interpretationAmbivalent interpretation

In absence of clearly collective In absence of clearly collective predicates (such as predicates (such as to get togetherto get together,, to to surroundsurround etc) sentences are usually etc) sentences are usually ambivalent regarding the D-C opposition. ambivalent regarding the D-C opposition.

Three girls wrote a song.Three girls wrote a song. 1a) There is a set 1a) There is a set xx composed of three composed of three

different girls and different girls and xx wrote a song wrote a song 1b) There are three individuals 1b) There are three individuals x1, x2, x1, x2,

x3x3 and for each one of them it holds: xi is and for each one of them it holds: xi is a girl and xi wrote a song.a girl and xi wrote a song.

IMPORTANTIMPORTANT

Various syntactic and semantic Various syntactic and semantic factors such as word order, lexical factors such as word order, lexical meaning of the verb, verbal tense meaning of the verb, verbal tense etc, can favor the D or the C reading etc, can favor the D or the C reading of a sentence. of a sentence.

SYNTACTICSYNTACTIC FACTORS FACTORS If we move the object of the verb to the frontal If we move the object of the verb to the frontal

position (producing the topicalisation -effect) we position (producing the topicalisation -effect) we get a collective reading: get a collective reading:

2)2) Poklon su joj kupila dva ucenika. Poklon su joj kupila dva ucenika. Present are her bought two pupils Present are her bought two pupils Two pupils bought her a present together.Two pupils bought her a present together.

In the example 2) the NP "poklon" (In the example 2) the NP "poklon" (presentpresent) is not ) is not in the scope of the NP "dva ucenika" (in the scope of the NP "dva ucenika" (two pupilstwo pupils) ) and therefore, the NP "poklon" cannot vary with and therefore, the NP "poklon" cannot vary with pupils. pupils.

This variation being a necessary condition for the This variation being a necessary condition for the distributive interpretation, we get here a distributive interpretation, we get here a collective reading. collective reading.

SEMANTIC FACTORSSEMANTIC FACTORS 1) VERB TYPE1) VERB TYPEA verb can be either D (A verb can be either D (to imagineto imagine)) , C , C

((to to gathergather) or mixed (ambiguous), ) or mixed (ambiguous), such as:such as:

Two pupils bought her a gift (together or Two pupils bought her a gift (together or separately).separately).

They have drawn a house (together or They have drawn a house (together or separately).separately).

My children often play computer games My children often play computer games (together or separately).(together or separately).

2) THE DISTRIBUT. PARTICLE 2) THE DISTRIBUT. PARTICLE POPO

Dva ucenika su joj kupila po poklon. Dva ucenika su joj kupila po poklon. Two pupils are her bought “po” presentTwo pupils are her bought “po” present Each of two pupils bought her a present.Each of two pupils bought her a present.

!!! !!! object frontingobject fronting on the sentence with on the sentence with po:po: Po poklon su joj kupila dva ucenika.Po poklon su joj kupila dva ucenika. “ “Po” present are her bought two pupilsPo” present are her bought two pupils Each of two pupils bought her a present.Each of two pupils bought her a present.

It undeniably has a distributive interpretationIt undeniably has a distributive interpretation !!

3. THE D PARTICLE 3. THE D PARTICLE I (ALSO)I (ALSO)I Marko i Jovan su joj kupili poklon.I Marko i Jovan su joj kupili poklon.And Marko and Jovan are her bought presentAnd Marko and Jovan are her bought presentBoth Jovan and Marko bought her a present.Both Jovan and Marko bought her a present.

The distributive meaning is licensed here thanks to The distributive meaning is licensed here thanks to the intensification effect provided by the the intensification effect provided by the repetition of the particle I: the importance of repetition of the particle I: the importance of every member in the denotation of NP in the every member in the denotation of NP in the subject position.subject position.

This emphasizing implicates the injective mapping This emphasizing implicates the injective mapping from the set denoted by the subject NP into the from the set denoted by the subject NP into the set of events denoted by the predicateset of events denoted by the predicate . .

THE PSEUDO-MARKER THE PSEUDO-MARKER ZAJEDNOZAJEDNO FOR THE C FOR THE C

INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION The adverb The adverb zajedno zajedno (together) favors the (together) favors the

C interpretation of the mixed predicates:C interpretation of the mixed predicates: Dva ucenika su joj zajedno kupila poklon. Dva ucenika su joj zajedno kupila poklon. Two pupils are her together bought presentTwo pupils are her together bought presentTwo pupils bought her a present together.Two pupils bought her a present together.

Unlike the particle Unlike the particle popo, that cannot be , that cannot be combined with collective predicates, combined with collective predicates, zajednozajedno can modify at least some can modify at least some distributive predicates: distributive predicates:

Dve zene su se zajedno porodile.Dve zene su se zajedno porodile.Two womenTwo women are refl together given birth are refl together given birthTwo women have given birth together.Two women have given birth together.

This sentence is perfectly acceptable in This sentence is perfectly acceptable in Serbian. Naturally, it does not designate that Serbian. Naturally, it does not designate that the product of the event the product of the event poroditi (to give birthporoditi (to give birth) ) is common for all the individuals denoted by is common for all the individuals denoted by the subject the subject dve zene (two womendve zene (two women). ). Zajedno Zajedno means here that there is a spatio-temporal means here that there is a spatio-temporal coincidence of several parallel events (see coincidence of several parallel events (see Jayez & Mari, 2005). Jayez & Mari, 2005).

But But zajedno zajedno is not ambiguous. It just adapts its is not ambiguous. It just adapts its meaning to the meaning of a sentence meaning to the meaning of a sentence predicate. Perhaps its variation could be predicate. Perhaps its variation could be regarded as a specific form of generative regarded as a specific form of generative mechanism called mechanism called selective binding selective binding [ (Pustejovsky, 1995). This suggests that the [ (Pustejovsky, 1995). This suggests that the basic instruction of the adverb basic instruction of the adverb zajedno zajedno (together) (together) is not is not collectivity collectivity but spatio-but spatio-temporal colocalization enriched with some temporal colocalization enriched with some causality or intentionality. causality or intentionality.

NB: with transitive verbs NB: with transitive verbs zajednozajedno usually favours usually favours the collective interpretation, while with non-the collective interpretation, while with non-transitive, it designates a specific type of spatio-transitive, it designates a specific type of spatio-temporal coincidencetemporal coincidence. .

One more observationOne more observation The spatio-temporalThe spatio-temporal colocalizationcolocalization is not a sufficient is not a sufficient

condition for the usage of condition for the usage of zajedno:zajedno:A) * Tog dana su dve drugarice svaka u svom selu zajedno A) * Tog dana su dve drugarice svaka u svom selu zajedno

stale pred oltar.stale pred oltar. On that very day two friends got married together, each of On that very day two friends got married together, each of

them in her own village.them in her own village.

B) ?Bokal je zajedno sa casama.B) ?Bokal je zajedno sa casama. The jug is together with glasses.The jug is together with glasses.

C) Bokal je zajedno sa casama u sudoperi. Hocu da ih operemC) Bokal je zajedno sa casama u sudoperi. Hocu da ih operem The jug is together with glasses in the sink. I want to wash The jug is together with glasses in the sink. I want to wash

them.them.

The acceptability of C is due to the fact that the The acceptability of C is due to the fact that the second sentence gives the reason for which second sentence gives the reason for which the objects are grouped: the speaker has the same the objects are grouped: the speaker has the same intention with all of them. So, togetherness in space intention with all of them. So, togetherness in space and time can be viewed as the external and time can be viewed as the external manifestation of certainmanifestation of certain logical or intentional logical or intentional properties of properties of zajednozajedno (such as causality or (such as causality or intentionality). intentionality).

NUMERAL MODIFIERS NUMERAL MODIFIERS AND THE DISTRIBUTIVE-AND THE DISTRIBUTIVE-

COLLECTIVE COLLECTIVE INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION

Modified numerals behave like quantifiers in that they Modified numerals behave like quantifiers in that they specify the number of all the individuals having the specify the number of all the individuals having the conjunction of the common noun denotation and VP conjunction of the common noun denotation and VP denotation. denotation.

Like quantifiers, they introduce preferably a distributive Like quantifiers, they introduce preferably a distributive reading: reading:

In the folowing exemple, the prefered interpretation is the In the folowing exemple, the prefered interpretation is the one in which gifts vary with pupils: one in which gifts vary with pupils:

Bar dva ucenika su joj kupila poklon. Bar dva ucenika su joj kupila poklon. At least 2At least 2 pupils are her bought gift pupils are her bought gift At least two pupils bought her a giftAt least two pupils bought her a gift Contrary to modified numerals and comparative Contrary to modified numerals and comparative

numerical expressions (more than n, less than n), numerical expressions (more than n, less than n), bare numerals are clearly ambiguous between the bare numerals are clearly ambiguous between the D and C reading. D and C reading.

Two pupils bought her a gift. Two pupils bought her a gift. The NPs introduced by bare numerals denote a set The NPs introduced by bare numerals denote a set

of exactly n individuals having properties denoted of exactly n individuals having properties denoted both by common noun and verb phrase. But bare both by common noun and verb phrase. But bare numerals don’t specify the totality of the numerals don’t specify the totality of the individuals having those two properties. individuals having those two properties.

On the other hand, modified numerals introduce On the other hand, modified numerals introduce maximal sets of individuals satisfying these two maximal sets of individuals satisfying these two properties. properties.

Zajedno Zajedno and MNand MN Zajedno Zajedno in a sentence with a modified numeral: in a sentence with a modified numeral:

Bar dva ucenika su joj kupila po poklon. Bar dva ucenika su joj kupila po poklon. At least 2At least 2 pupils are her bought po gift pupils are her bought po giftAt least two pupils bought her a gift each.At least two pupils bought her a gift each.

The distributive marker The distributive marker popo is not redundant in this is not redundant in this type of sentences. Namely, it underlines that the type of sentences. Namely, it underlines that the reading of the sentence should be distributive. reading of the sentence should be distributive. This signalises that perhaps with modified This signalises that perhaps with modified numeral we could have a collective reading numeral we could have a collective reading although this reading is less salient than the although this reading is less salient than the distributive one. distributive one.

ASPECT AND THE D-C ASPECT AND THE D-C

INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION Our Our hypothesishypothesis: : The aspect of the sentence predicate (in the case of The aspect of the sentence predicate (in the case of

mixed predicates) can influence the interpretation mixed predicates) can influence the interpretation of the sentence, as far as the opposition D– C is of the sentence, as far as the opposition D– C is concerned:concerned:

A) Dva ucenika su joj kupila cvet.A) Dva ucenika su joj kupila cvet. Two pupils are her bought (PERF) flowerTwo pupils are her bought (PERF) flower Two pupils bought her a flower.Two pupils bought her a flower. B) Dva ucenika su joj kupovala cvet.B) Dva ucenika su joj kupovala cvet. Two pupils are her bought (IMPERF) flowerTwo pupils are her bought (IMPERF) flower Two pupils were buying her a flower.Two pupils were buying her a flower.

A is ambiguous but B A is ambiguous but B certainly favours the C reading. certainly favours the C reading. A poss A poss proof: with PO in B)proof: with PO in B) we get a rather odd sentence: we get a rather odd sentence:

C) ? Dva ucenika su joj kupovala C) ? Dva ucenika su joj kupovala popo cvet. cvet.Two pupils were buying her together a flower each.Two pupils were buying her together a flower each.

A possible explanationA possible explanation With the imperfective perfect we get a With the imperfective perfect we get a

collective reading because it represents an collective reading because it represents an unbounded process enfolding in the past. unbounded process enfolding in the past. Namely, with the imperfective perfect the Namely, with the imperfective perfect the first (default) interpretation is the picture of first (default) interpretation is the picture of a process developing in time and not the a process developing in time and not the iteration (multiplicity) of processes. iteration (multiplicity) of processes.

If we have one singular process developing If we have one singular process developing in time in which several individual are in time in which several individual are involved, we get involved, we get by defaultby default a collective a collective interpretation! interpretation!

In order to get the distributive reading it is In order to get the distributive reading it is however necessary to imagine at least two however necessary to imagine at least two autonomous events. autonomous events.

PRAGMATIC FACTORSPRAGMATIC FACTORS In the absence of any procedural expression some In the absence of any procedural expression some

purely contextual factors (linked exclusively to our purely contextual factors (linked exclusively to our real-world knowledge) can decide whether the real-world knowledge) can decide whether the interpretation of an utterance is distributive or interpretation of an utterance is distributive or collective: collective:

Dva udvaraca su joj kupila poklon.Dva udvaraca su joj kupila poklon.Two suitors are her bought giftTwo suitors are her bought giftTwo suitors bought her a gift.Two suitors bought her a gift.

The reason for the D interpretation is clear: our world The reason for the D interpretation is clear: our world knowledge tells us that normally suitors are seen as knowledge tells us that normally suitors are seen as rivals, so they buy and give gifts separately. rivals, so they buy and give gifts separately.

CANCELLATION OF PRAGM CANCELLATION OF PRAGM INDUCED INTERPRETATIONINDUCED INTERPRETATION

Marko i Jovan su resili da se zajedno udvaraju Maji. Marko i Jovan su resili da se zajedno udvaraju Maji. I tako su joj ta I tako su joj ta dva udvaraca kupila poklon.dva udvaraca kupila poklon.

Marko and Jovan are decided that refl together Marko and Jovan are decided that refl together court Maja. And so are her these two suitors court Maja. And so are her these two suitors bought giftbought gift

Marko and Jovan decided to court Maja together. So, Marko and Jovan decided to court Maja together. So, these two suitors bought her a gift.these two suitors bought her a gift.

   In this case, thanks to the context given by the In this case, thanks to the context given by the

preceding sentence (preceding sentence (Marko and Jovan decided to Marko and Jovan decided to court Maja togethercourt Maja together) we get the collective ) we get the collective interpretation.interpretation.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION The interface of several independent linguistic and The interface of several independent linguistic and

non-linguistic factors can influence the interpretation non-linguistic factors can influence the interpretation of utterances in terms of the opposition D - C.  of utterances in terms of the opposition D - C. 

Some of these factors seem to be universal such as Some of these factors seem to be universal such as the type of predicate (distributive, collective or the type of predicate (distributive, collective or mixed) and some of them are language specific and mixed) and some of them are language specific and related to syntactical and semantic specificities of a related to syntactical and semantic specificities of a given language. given language.

Interestingly, there isn't a specialized marker for the Interestingly, there isn't a specialized marker for the collective interpretation. collective interpretation. The adverb The adverb zajednozajedno, (a , (a pseudo-marker for C interpretation) can only favor pseudo-marker for C interpretation) can only favor (and not select obligatorily) a C interpretation of (and not select obligatorily) a C interpretation of the mixed predicates, its primary function being to the mixed predicates, its primary function being to signalize the spatio -temporal co- localization of at signalize the spatio -temporal co- localization of at least two eventualities. least two eventualities.

This co-localisation has to be viewed as a kind of  This co-localisation has to be viewed as a kind of  external manifestation of some other logical or external manifestation of some other logical or intentional constraints (causality or intentionality). intentional constraints (causality or intentionality).

HVALAHVALA

SPASIBASPASIBA

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

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