Declerck Renaat, Reed Susan. Conditionals: A Comprehensive Empirical Analysis

Mouton de Gruyter, 2001. — 557 p. — (Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL] 37). — ISBN 3110171449, 9783110171440.This book is an extremely detailed and comprehensive examination of conditional sentences in English, using many examples from actual language-use. The syntax and semantics of conditionals (including tense and mood options) and the functions of conditionals in discourse are examined in depth, producing an all-round linguistic view of the subject which contains a wealth of original observations and analyses. Not only linguists specializing in grammar but also those interested in pragmatics and the philosophy of language will find this book a rewarding and illuminating source.Aim and scope of the work
'Factual' versus 'closed' conditions
Pseudo-Q conditionals
Categorizations
The structure of the book
Terminological preliminaries
The definition of'conditional (sentence)'
The terms 'situation' and 'actualize'
'P-clause' and 'Q-clause'
Ρ VÍ [+p] or [-p]; Q vs [+q] and [—q]
'[Name]-P conditionals' and '[Name]-Q conditionals'
Terminological confusion
Symbols and conventions
Symbols and typeface
Conventions
The illustrative material
Conditional connecting devices
Connectors expressing a necessary condition
Unless
In case
Lest
Even //"and only if
Whetheror
Supposing, assuming, etc
Zero-conjunction plus inversion
Comparative conditionals
Other clauses with a conditional connotation
Extraposed subject clauses
Restrictive relative clauses
Adverbial time clauses
Clauses introduced by after (when contrasted with before)
ße/ore-clauses
{/«¿//-clauses
{As/so} long as
The momenf (that), as soon as, once
When-clauses
Paratactic conditionalsSome preliminary terminology
'Subordinate' clauses
'Fully integrated' clauses
Restrictive postscript-P conditionals
Actualization conditionals
'(Non)assertoric' vs '(non)assertive' clauses
Inferential conditionals
Direct inferential
Indirect inferentials
Implicative conditionals
Case-specifying-P conditionals
Purely case-specifying-P conditionals
Actualization conditionals
Direct inferentials
Set-identifying P-clauses
Conditionals and possible worlds
Factual vj theoretical P-clauses
Neutral vs nonneutral theoretical P-clauses
Types of nonneutral theoretical P-clauses
Closed-P conditionals
Open-P conditionals
Tentative-P conditionals
Counterfactual-P conditionals
Irrealis, nonfactual, counterfactual and imaginary P-clauses
Pseudo-Q conditionals
'Denied conditionals' vs 'conditioned denials'
Specificational (focusing) conditional structures
The three canonical tense patterns of conditionals
Conclusion Table of contents ix
The possible-world typology of conditionals
Factual-P conditionals
Past repetitive habits
Performative P-clauses
Factuality indirectly following from counterfactuality
Counterfactual unless and ifnot
Counterfactual 'ad absurdum' conditionals
Other kinds of counterfactual 'indirect inferentials'
Non-case-specifying-P conditionals with factual P-clause
Seemingly factual P-clauses
Theoretical-world conditionals
Definition
Neutral-P conditionals
Conditionals with nonspecific reference in the P-clause
Gnomic (universal, omnitemporal) Q-clauses
Conditionals whose Q-clause expresses a present habit
Set-identifying-P conditionals
If you say so
Anchoring-P conditionals
Imaginary-P conditionals
Nonneutral theoretical-P conditionals
Closed-P conditionals
Definition
Closed-P conditionals with Ρ relating to another nonfactual world
Closed P-clauses are echoic
Functional types of closed-P conditionals
Modalizers in the Q-clause of a closed-P conditional
Ostensibly closed P-clauses
Open-P conditionals
Tentative-P conditionals
Definition
Other forms of tentativeness
Indirect tentative-P conditionals: the type I wouldn't be surprised if he came
Counterfactual-P conditionals
Definition
Counterfactual patterns
Counteridentical-P conditionals
Interrogative Q-clauses in possible-world conditionals χ Table of contents
The possible world(s) of Ρ and Q
Modalization
The negation effected by counterfactualityThe use of tenses in possible-world conditionals Ill
The tense model I l l
Time-spheres and sectors
'Full situation' vs 'predicated situation'
Time of the predicated situation
'Time of orientation' and 'time of the situation'
Temporal domain
'T-relations' VÎ 'W-relations'
T-relations
W-relations
Direct and indirect binding
Sloppy simultaneity
Shift of temporal perspective
'Present Perspective System' vs
'Future Perspective System'
The future tense and modality
The use of tenses in factual-P conditionals
P-clauses referring to a past or pre-present repetitive habit
Performative P-clauses
Factual #P-clauses
Counterfactual {unless / ifnot)-clauses
Ad absurdum conditionals
Other indirect inferentials
The use of tenses in neutral-P conditionals
The use of tenses in closed-P conditionalsTense combinations in closed-P conditionals
Closed P-clause functioning as Q-clauses
Closed P-clauses using the Future Perspective System
Closed-P inferentials in (free) indirect speech
Closed-P inferentials expressing a past conclusion about an anticipated past P-situation
Closed-P inferentials expressing a past conclusion about an anterior P-situation
Closed P-clauses combining with a Q-clause referring to another possible world
The use of tenses in open-P conditionals
General rule
Open P-clauses referring to the post-present
Open-P inferentials with a P-clause in the past tense Í
Open-P inferentials with a P-clause in the past perfect
Open-P inferentials with a P-clause in the past perfect and a Q-clause in the conditional perfect
Open P-clause combining with a tentative Q-clause
Open P-clause combining with a counterfactual Q-clause
Open P-clause with 'futurate' present tense
Open P-clause using the Present Perspective System and combining with a factual Q-clause?
Open P-clause with shall
The use of tenses in tentative-P conditionalsTime reference in tentative-P conditionals
Tentative P-world treated as a past domain
Canonical pattern conditionals
The conditional tense expressing T-posteriority in the Q-clause
Past counterpart of the Present Perspective System in the P-clause
Past counterpart of the Future Perspective System in the P-clause
Tentative P-clauses combining with a factual Q-clause
Pattern conditionals with a tentative-P meaning
The use of tenses in counterfactual-P conditionalsTime reference in counterfactual pattern conditionals
Time reference in counterfactual pattern conditionals
Mixing verb forms from pattern and pattern in order to express anteriority
Possible tense combinations in counterfactual-P conditionals
Past / pre-present P-situation + present Q-situation
Past / pre-present P-situation + post-present Q-situation
Past / pre-present P-situation + past / pre-present Q-situation
Extended present P-situation + past / pre-present Q-situation
Both clauses referring to the present or extended present
Extended present P-situation + post-present Q-situation
Post-present P-situation + past / pre-present Q-situation
Post-present P-situation + present Q-situation
Post-present P-situation + post-present Q-situation
Counterfactual P-clauses functioning as Q-clauses
The time of the conclusion
Counterfactual P-clause combining with Q-clause from another possible world
'Had + perfect infinitive' in the Q-clause of pattern
The 'double pluperfect' in the P-clause of pattern
Would have in the P-clause of a pattern conditionalModalized case-specifying conditionals
The subjunctive
The present subjunctive in the P-clause
The past subjunctive in the P-clause
Modal auxiliaries in the Q-clause
Q-clauses combining with a factual, neutral or closed P-clause
Q-clauses combining with an open-P clause
Q-clauses combining with a tentative or counterfactual P-clause
Ordinary modal auxiliaries in the P-clause
Ordinary modals in closed P-clauses
Ordinary modals in neutral and factual P-clauses
Ordinary modals in open, tentative or counterfactual P-clauses
The ordinary modal use of be to in P-clauses
Ordinary modal uses of will and would in P-clauses
The use of special-P modals in P-clauses
Were to in P-clauses
Should in P-clauses
Be to and be going to in P-clauses
Verb forms after in case and lestThe three canonical tense patterns
Canonical pattern conditionals
Canonical pattern conditionals
Tentative-P conditionals that do not have the pattern form Table of contents xiii
Nontentative-P pattern conditionals
Pattern as a result of backshifting pattern
Pattern with counterfactual Ρ and counterfactual Q
Pattern with counterfactual Ρ and imaginary Q
Pattern with imaginary Ρ and imaginary Q
Pattern with a factual P-clause
Pattern resulting from using would instead of w/// have
Pattern with modal would in the Q-clause
Canonical pattern conditionals
Pattern resulting from backshifting
Imaginary pattern conditionals
Counterfactual Ρ + imaginary Q
Imaginary Ρ + imaginary Q
Pattern with closed P-clause and putative would in the Q-clauseThe relation between the theoretical world and the actual worldEpistemic modalizers
The importance of the relation between the theoretical world and the actual world
Counterfactual indirect inferentials
The implicature of counterfactuality of Q in counterfactual-P conditionals
Cancelling of the implicature of counterfactuality of Q
The communicative function of the counterfactual-P conditional
Counterfactual-P conditionals with Q-clause expressing a disposition
Counterfactual-P conditionals with Q-clause expressing advice
Nonassertoric interrogative Q-clausesA typology of case-specifying P-clauses
Actualization conditionals
Definition
Types of actualization-conditioning P-clauses xiv Table of contents
Actualization-triggering P-clauses
Preclusive-P actualization conditionals
Actualization-licensing-P conditionals
Nonpreclusive-P actualization conditionals
Actualization conditionals introduced by in case
'Prerequisite-P' vs 'restrictive postscript-P'
Inferential conditionals
Definition
Direct inferentials
Standard direct inferentials
Backtrackers
Nonpreclusive-P inferentials
Inferentials involving an inferential bridge between Ρ and Q
The epistemological basis of direct inference
Extrapolating from a necessary truth
Extrapolating from a general pattern
Extrapolating via inferential bridges
Nonextrapolating inferentials
Case-specifying-P conditionals that cannot be standard direct inferentials
Postscript premise-expressing P-clauses
Indirect inferentials
'Ad absurdum' inferentials
Indirect inferentials with counterfactual verb form in the Q-clause
Indirect inferentials with contradictory Q-clause
Assertorie interrogative Q-clause incompatible with factual P-clause
Pseudo-Q inferentials
Purely case-specifying-P conditionals
Purely case-specifying-P conditionals specifying the circumstances under which the Q-situation actualizes
Purely case-specifying P-clauses specifying the case(s) in which Q is true
Purely case-specifying P-clause specifying the circumstances under which the perception of the
Q-situation may take place
Purely case-specifying P-clause defining the conditions under which one comes to the conclusion that Q is true
Purely case-specifying P-clause merely specifying the cases in which Q is true
Set-identifying P-clauses Table of contents xvRhetorical conditionals
Utterance conditionals
Relevance conditionals
Anchoring-P conditionals
Performative-Q conditionals
Metalinguistic-Q conditionals
Nonassertoric-Q utterance conditionals
Commenting-Q utterance conditionals
Comparing conditionals
Definition
Subtypes of comparing conditionals
Similarity-expressing conditionals
Contrastive conditionals
Gradation conditionals
Concessive-P conditionals
Reference to the post-present in comparing conditionals
Commenting-P conditionals
Downtoning-P conditionals
Boosting-P conditionals
Evaluating-P conditionals
Truth-evaluating-P conditionals
Content-evaluating-P conditionals
Presupposition-evaluating-P conditionals
Metalinguistic-P conditionals
Speech condition-defining-P conditionals
Reminding-P conditionals
Hedging-P conditionals
Pseudo-implicative conditionals
Pleonastic conditionalsSyntactic integration
Syntactically marked conditional structures
Postscript-P conditionals
Conditional anacolutha
Nominal-Q conditionals
Displaced-P conditionals
Stacked-P conditionals
Conditionals with coordinated P-clauses or Q-clauses xvi Table of contents
Syntactically incomplete conditionals
Covert-P conditionals
The type would {like / love / hate / prefer} to
Would/should for tentativeness
Q-clauses implying iflwereyou
Conditionals without real link between the overt
P-clause and the Q-clause
Covert-Q conditionals
Conditionals whose Q-clause is deleted to avoid repetition
Covert-Q conditionals of the purely case-specifying-P type
If only
Presupposition-evaluating Q-less P-clauses
Q-less conditionals as indignant exclamations
Q-less //-clauses used for weak manipulation
Ifyou say so
Q-less //-clauses as independent questions
Exclamations of surprise
Pseudo-Q conditionals
Conditionals with a reduced P-clause or Q-clause
Reduced-P conditionals
Reduced-Q conditionals
Implicit P-conditionals
Implicit-Q conditionals
Semi-nominal-P conditionals
Extraposed-P conditionals
Nonextraposed-semi-nominal-P conditionals
Specificational anacolutha
Split conditionals
Paratactic conditionals
Paratactic conditionals with an imperative P-clause + or
Paratactic conditionals with a (pseudo-)imperative P-clause + and
Paratactic conditionals with finite P-clause + finite and/or-c\aase
Paratactic conditionals with a quantified NP as P-constituent
Paratactic conditionals of the form 'NP or NP'
Asyndetic paratactic conditionals
Specificational (focusing) conditional structures
Definition
Type 1: specificational P-clause
Type 2: specificational Q-clause Table of contents xvii
Type 3: 'premodified reduced //-clefts' and variants
Type 4: Q-variable + nonspecificational P-value
Type 5: Q-variable + specificational P-valueSufficient and/or necessary conditions Preliminaries
(In)dispensable P-cIauses Utterance-conditionals
A/T-conditions
The definition of'necessary' and 'sufficient' A/T-condition
The origins of necessity and/or sufficiency understandings
Sufficiency and/or necessity interpretations of A/T-conditions
Ρ is interpreted as a sufficient and necessary condition for Q
Ρ is interpreted as a sufficient, but not necessary, condition for Q
Ρ is interpreted as a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for Q
Ρ is interpreted as neither necessary nor sufficient for QUses and interpretations of unless
Syntactically integrated nonirrealis M«/esj-clauses
Syntactically nonintegrated nonirrealis ww/m-clauses
Unless in irrealis conditionals
Unless in imaginary-P irrealis conditionals
Counterfactual unlessThe meanings and uses of even if
The meaning of even if in implicative conditionals
The expectation understanding plus the nonpreclusive understanding
Scalarity
Even //precludes the implicative that Ρ is necessary for Q
Nonimplicative even //-conditionals xviii Table of contents
Purely concessive even //-clauses
Commenting even //clausesAuthor's index
Subject index