1. The Plural Is Sematically Unmarked Alex de Vries Enis Kahrimanovic

2. Singular vs. Plural Plurality just means ‘more than one’

3. Plural? Plural does not always imply cardinality greater than one (1)a. You're welcome to bring your children. b. You're welcome to bring your two or more children. (2) a. Every boy should invite his sisters. b. Every boy should invite his two or more sisters (3) a. No chairs are available. b. Two or more chairs aren't available. (4) a. Könnten Sie bitte etwas rücken Could pro.3PL please a little move `Could you please move over.' b. Könnten Sie zwei bitte etwas rücken. Could pro.3PL two please a little move `Could you two please move over.'

4. Strong theory vs. Weak theory Strong theory of the plural [Sing](x) is defined if #x=1 [Sing](x) x = wherever it is defined [Plur](x) is defined only if #x > 1 [Plur](x) wherever it is defined Weak theory of the plural [Sing](x) is defined if #x=1 [Sing](x) x = wherever it is defined [Plur](x) is always defined [Plur](x) = x wherever it is defined (Use plural only if singular is blocked)

5. Weak theory of the plural (a)The boy, Kay, smiles (b)The boys, Kay and Hannes, smile.

6. Mixed reference You are welcome to bring your children You are welcome to bring your child You are welcome to bring your child or children You may bring your children if you have any You may bring your children if you have more than one Every boy should invite his sisters to the party Every boy should invite his sister to the party

7. Plural pronouns with singular reference Könten sie bitte etwas rücken could pro.3pl please a little move sideways “Could you please move a little?” Könntest du bitte etwas rücken could pro.2sg please a little move sideways (very common in languages)

8. Old English vs. New English Thou speak’st in better phrase and matter then thou didst. Methinks you’re better spoken Modern English lost singluar/plural distinction in 2nd person pronouns. Someone left their umbrella.

9. Brown and Levinson (1987) Frau Meier, ihre Nasen müssen operiert werden. Ms. Meier, pro.3pl nose-PL must-PL operated be “Ms. Meier, you must receive surgery on your noses”

10. Indefinites in downward entailing contexts Without artificial ingredients If John had eaten any apples from the basket, there would be at least one/two less in the basket.

11. Child performance Difference with adults: – Children acquire implicatures quite late (age 5)  Hypothese: Children at age 5 do not understand plural marking like an adult.

12. Experiment 5 test items: Does a girl have noses? 8 contole items: Does a fish have legs? Results – Test items: – 4% adult-like – Controle items – 97% adult-like

13. Explanation H1: Children do not percieve plural morphology H2: Children treat some questions in the same way as adults treat downward entailing enviroments Does a dog have tails? Does a office have windows?

14. Adult performance Four questions: Does a dog have tails? Does a dog have two tails? Does a goat have horns? Does a goat have two horns?

15. Adult performance Four questions: Does a dog have tails? Does a dog have two tails? Does a goat have horns? Does a goat have two horns?

16. Explanation Sentences with a negative answer : Conflict between singular and plural (different truth values)  Additional reading/processing time Sentences with a positive answer: No conflict between singular and plural (samo truth values)  No additional reading/processing time

17. Conclusion Plural is ‘more than one’, but not always Strong vs weak Mixed reference Singel reference Child performance Adult performance

18. Discussion Which dog has tails?

19. Discussion Every boy should invite his sisters to the party Every boy has more than one sisters? At least on boy has more than one sisters?