Context dependence in the interpretation of questions and subjunctives [Elektronische Ressource] / von Elisabeth Villalta

CONTEXT DEPENDENCE IN THEINTERPRETATION OF QUESTIONS ANDSUBJUNCTIVESvonELISABETH VILLALTA Philosophische Dissertationangenommen von der Neuphilologischen Fakultät der Universität Tübingenam 18. Dezember 2006TÜBINGEN 2007Gedruckt mit Genehmigung der Neuphilologischen Fakultät derUniversität TübingenHauptberichterstatter: Prof. Dr. Sigrid BeckMitberichterstatter: Prof. Dr. Arnim von StechowMitberichterstatter: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang SternefeldMitberichterstatter: Prof. Dr. Claudia MaienbornDekan: Prof. Dr. Joachim KnapeACKNOWLEDGMENTSI am indebted to Sigrid Beck for many things. She first introduced me to thesemantics of questions in a seminar in Amherst in the Fall 1996 and made this a verypleasant experience for me. My interest in the semantics of questions has inspired allmy work ever since. While I was working on my dissertation under her supervision, shewas very stimulating and constructive in all her comments and suggestions. Herexcitement about my ideas has encouraged me to continue until the end, and herfriendship has been invaluable to me. Needless to say, this work would never have beencompleted without her. I am grateful to Arnim von Stechow for being very supportive and enthusiasticabout my work. I thank him, as well as Wolfgang Sternefeld and Claudia Maienborn foraccepting to be on my committee. Their very detailed reviews, criticism andsuggestions have helped me clarify many issues in this dissertation.