Distributivity and Plural Anaphora

Abstract

This dissertation is an investigation of the semantics of sentences exhibiting plural referential dependencies. I will pursue two main lines of thought, each with consequences for the notion of distributivity as it is understood to apply to certain linguistic phenomena. First I consider the empirical scope of an event-based theory of distributivity, and argue that this approach can provide a simple and empirically adequate semantics for plural anaphoric relations such as reciprocity, reflexivity, and distance distributivity. The second part focuses on plural referential dependencies in attitude reports; in particular I address issues about distributivity and plurality that arise in cases of plural De Se ascription.