The Tenseless Copula in Temporal Predication
(2010) In Erkenntnis 72(2). p.267-280- Abstract
- In this paper I explore how the tenseless copula is to be interpreted in sentences of the form “a is F at t”, where “a” denotes a persisting, changeable object, “F” stands for a prima facie intrinsic property and “t” for a B-time. I argue that the interpretation of the copula depends on the logical role assigned to the time clause. Having rejected the idea that the time clause is to be treated as a sentence operator, I argue: (1) that if “at t” is thought of as being associated with “a” or “F”, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly read as an “is” simpliciter; and (2) that if “at t” is treated as being associated with the copula, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly understood as expressing a disjunction of tensed copulas. I... (More)
- In this paper I explore how the tenseless copula is to be interpreted in sentences of the form “a is F at t”, where “a” denotes a persisting, changeable object, “F” stands for a prima facie intrinsic property and “t” for a B-time. I argue that the interpretation of the copula depends on the logical role assigned to the time clause. Having rejected the idea that the time clause is to be treated as a sentence operator, I argue: (1) that if “at t” is thought of as being associated with “a” or “F”, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly read as an “is” simpliciter; and (2) that if “at t” is treated as being associated with the copula, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly understood as expressing a disjunction of tensed copulas. I end the paper by explaining the importance of the issue. I indicate the ramifications interpretation of the tenseless copula has for the so-called problem of temporary intrinsics. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1586261
- author
- Hansson Wahlberg, Tobias LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2010
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Temporal Predication, Time, adverbialism, the problem of temporary intrinsics, endurance, tenseless verbs
- in
- Erkenntnis
- volume
- 72
- issue
- 2
- pages
- 267 - 280
- publisher
- Springer
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:77949653518
- ISSN
- 1572-8420
- DOI
- 10.1007/s10670-009-9197-3
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 0b18a46c-78c3-4990-835b-b63e3e4b05a0 (old id 1586261)
- alternative location
- http://www.springerlink.com/content/f2831016r2k70vv6/?p=dc3b581bff624511a556ebb94e08dab9&pi=5
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 10:43:36
- date last changed
- 2022-01-26 01:58:22
@article{0b18a46c-78c3-4990-835b-b63e3e4b05a0,
abstract = {{In this paper I explore how the tenseless copula is to be interpreted in sentences of the form “a is F at t”, where “a” denotes a persisting, changeable object, “F” stands for a prima facie intrinsic property and “t” for a B-time. I argue that the interpretation of the copula depends on the logical role assigned to the time clause. Having rejected the idea that the time clause is to be treated as a sentence operator, I argue: (1) that if “at t” is thought of as being associated with “a” or “F”, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly read as an “is” simpliciter; and (2) that if “at t” is treated as being associated with the copula, then the tenseless copula is most plausibly understood as expressing a disjunction of tensed copulas. I end the paper by explaining the importance of the issue. I indicate the ramifications interpretation of the tenseless copula has for the so-called problem of temporary intrinsics.}},
author = {{Hansson Wahlberg, Tobias}},
issn = {{1572-8420}},
keywords = {{Temporal Predication; Time; adverbialism; the problem of temporary intrinsics; endurance; tenseless verbs}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{2}},
pages = {{267--280}},
publisher = {{Springer}},
series = {{Erkenntnis}},
title = {{The Tenseless Copula in Temporal Predication}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2084911/8676164.pdf}},
doi = {{10.1007/s10670-009-9197-3}},
volume = {{72}},
year = {{2010}},
}