James Higginbotham
University of Southern California

"On Sententialism: The Thesis that Complement Clauses refer to Themselves"

Abstract:
In this paper I develop the view that at least some complementized clauses, and particularly those headed by ÔthatÕ, as in my title, are self-referential. I take up this view as a thesis about the nature of our semantic competence, advanced as the literal truth, rather than as an idealization, or as an adaptation or regimentation of our language for the exposition of science.

Back to Talks Page