Negating gradable adjectives

Natural Language Semantics 31 (2):121-137 (2023)
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Abstract

In this short paper, I analyze the syntax and semantics of the prefix _un_- with gradable adjectives like _unhappy_ and compare it to the syntax and semantics of _not_. Within the framework of Collins and Postal ( 2014 ), I propose that _un_- and _not_ have the same semantics but negate different constituents, accounting for the differences in interpretation.

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10.1007/s11050-023-09204-1

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Chris Collins
James Madison University

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