On the Proper Role of Coercion in Semantic Typing

In this paper, we discuss the phenomenon of logical polysemy in natural language as addressed by Generative Lexicon Theory. We discuss generally the role of type and sortal coercion operations in the semantics, and specifically the conditions on the application of coercion in aspectual predicates and other contexts. We reply to some recent discussion regarding the use of coercion in the grammar, and show that type changing operations are both useful and explanatory mechanisms for capturing linguistic and computational generalizations.

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