Improving the semantic map of additivity: universal concessive conditionals and indefinite pronouns

Abstract

Abstract In the present paper, I propose an improvement to the semantic map of additivity by Diana Forker. Additive markers are focus-sensitive operators that trigger the presupposition that the proposition in their scope is satisfied by at least one alternative to the focused element (e.g., English also, too). In many languages, additive markers are polyfunctional and may occur in e.g., constituent coordination, indefinite pronouns, and/or concessives. I first discuss Forker’s original semantic map of additivity and a subsequent modification by Martina Faller. I then revert some of the changes made by Faller and instead make two suggestions of my own, based on a convenience sample of 48 languages (from 36 different families, covering all macro-areas). First, the ‘concessive’ node in Forker’s map should be split up into two nodes: concessives proper (‘although p, q’) and concessive conditionals (‘if {p 1 , p 2 , p 3 , …}, q’). Second, indefinites should not be connected to scalar additives, but to concessive conditionals. More specifically, free-choice indefinites (FCIs) should be connected to universal concessive conditionals (UCCs). Finally, I briefly discuss the diachronic directionality of this connection, focusing on the question of whether FCIs are recruited to form UCCs or whether they develop from UCCs.