ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the semantic behavior and treatments of plural terms and collective noun phrases. It discusses the sorts of plural terms and collective nouns. The chapter also discusses the treatments of collective nouns and argues that collective nouns have dual meanings. Most of the literature on plurals and collective nouns involves the use of formal semantic and logical tools. Collective nouns can pick out groups of inanimates, groups of non-human animates, unorganized groups of humans and organized groups of humans. If collective nouns are ambiguous, a single token of a collective noun should allow for only one meaning to be utilized. On the semantics being developed, collective nouns are polysemous between a singular group-meaning and a plural members-meaning. In arguing for views in social ontology and in collective intentionality, action, and emotion, the semantics of plural terms and collective nouns may prove informative.
