Degree expressions 1

This paper investigates the syntax and semantics of degree expressions. We argue that some degree items are functional heads: they project when merged with a gradable expression. Other degree items are modifiers: they do not project when merged. This simple hypothesis explains a range of data, including the distribution of much .W ea lso distinguish various semantic classes of degree expression, based on the operations they perform and on their evaluative or non-evaluative nature. Interestingly, there is no one-to-one correspondence between the proposed syntactic and semantic classifications. This suggests that the mapping between syntax and semantics must be partially arbitrary, at least where lexical items are involved. On the other hand, the extent to which degree expressions can be stacked follows from an LF mapping rule sensitive to specifier-head configurations. This suggests more regularity in the mapping between complex syntactic and semantic objects.