Cross-linguistic variation in semantics How can languages vary in mapping linguistic form to meanings? How do children learn the semantic properties of their native language? Can there be systematic differences among languages in their semantics unmatched by differences in grammatical structure? This conference and workshop series will draw on recent advances in semantics and syntax to address such questions with precision. Three semantic areas will be studied: (1) reference of nominal expressions (e.g., semantic differences among languages that distinguish "mass" from "count" nominals--like English--and those that do not--like Chinese), (2) verbal aspect and tense, and (3) interpretation of pronouns or other "incomplete" expressions (where this often involves connecting the "anaphoric" expression to some "antecedent") and related matters of scope (the "range" over which some expression operates). Results will be not only of theoretical interest but also of potential practical significance for such areas as foreign language learning and speech pathology.
