ABSTRACT
It is noteworthy that the idea of semantically based grammar is particularly alive in the research on determination and quantification, not only in classical generative semantics, but also in more recent literature (Hawkins, 1978; Hogg, 1977; Van Langendonck, 1976). To put it into Hawkins's words: 'the full contents of semantic representation are going to be needed in syntax' (p.282). This hypothesis will be confirmed in the present chapter, dealing with indefiniteness and some of its subcategories. On semantic, psycholinguistic and syntactic grounds, semantic representations (SRs) will be set up for the categories in question. Moreover, this will lead to positing a hierarchy of semantic complexity. *
To achieve these goals, however, it will be necessary to distinguish between 'logical form' and 'semantic form', as is done by Seuren (1975, pp. 273 ff.).
