Negative Polarity Items in non-negative contexts (B05)

• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 509468465

Our research seeks to reconcile conventional assumptions of Negative Polarity Item (NPI) licensing with observed exceptions, primarily focusing on English, German, and Romanian. Extending traditional analyses, the project proposes that strong NPIs necessitate a strong licenser, either at-issue or non-at-issue, while weak NPIs require a weak at-issue licenser. Utilizing a blend of quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including native speaker acceptability judgements, the goal is to formulate an enriched theory of NPI licensing within a constraint-based grammar framework.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1629: Negation in language and beyond (NegLaB)
• Applicant Institution: Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main
• Project Heads: Professor Dr. Frank Richter, since 1/2024; Professor Dr. Manfred Sailer, since 1/2024