A multidimensional dynamic framework for handling simple interruption phenomena, anaphoric pronouns and definite descriptions

This thesis introduces a semantical system for handling nested discourses with interruptions from a semantic point of view developed on the insights of Groenendijk and Stokhof's (1991) system which deals with anaphoric pronouns occurring in a non-nested discourse, i.e., in a linear sequence of sentences. The key is the insight that a sentence is a func- tion between information states which are seen as a set of assignment functions. Since the present work deals with hierarchically structured discourses, multidimensional functions and multidimensional information states will be used instead. This thesis not only generalizes previous work, but also opens the way for a new series of semantical systems. As a first step into the multidimensional dynamic logic framework, the present system has only dealt with a very few parameters. Indeed, we assume in a quite unrealistic fashion that all dimensions share the same domain of individuals. We assume also that there are no intentional (rhetorical) relationship amongst discourse blocks.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Ph.D

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Leeds

Year dc:date.issued

1998

Author dc:creator

• Ralha, Jose

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Cohn, A.G.

Identifier

uk.bl.ethos.529117

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etheses.whiterose.ac.uk:1284