Quantitative predicates and intensity-property

Joanna Cholewa

Uniwersytet w Białymstoku

Abstract

Markers of intensity have been described differently in different works. This paper is based on Kleiber’s (2013) idea that intensity defined as the quantitative determination of the feature should be distinguished from intensity conceived as a feature in itself. This intensity-property is characteristic, according to Kleiber, of four groups of words: physical sensations, meteorological phenomena, feelings and actions. Combining the words belonging to these four groups with quantitative predicates (affaiblir, baisser, diminuer, faiblir, tomber), which introduce a negative polarity, shows that the selected predicates combine the easiest with words designating feelings and physical sensations, and the least with those which name actions. The connectivity of selected predicates can help reclassify the groups of words selected by Kleiber.

Keywords:

intensity-property, negative polarity, expression of intensity