Word Classes in Formal Semantics

Abstract This chapter focuses on the formal semantics of nouns and its theoretical implications for other categories. This chapter introduces uniform semantic types of ‘extrinsic’ function–argument relations between categories in English and Warlpiri. By contrast, categories also have specialized ‘intrinsic’ semantic arguments. Other than exceptional cases like incorporation in Chamorro, only ‘intrinsic’ arguments can be modified in non-nominal categories. Nouns, by contrast, use their extrinsic argument for modification as well. Nouns also restrict quantificational domains, which are illustrated here by analysing unspecified nouns/verbs in Hebrew. The chapter discusses challenges to the idea that nouns are introducers of identity criteria, and review possible solutions. Lastly, the chapter reviews nominal reference to kinds and mass substances. This shows intimate relations between mass terms and property expressions, which affect the choices that languages make when manifesting property meanings as adjectival (most European languages) or nominal (Bisa, Hausa, and Basaá, among other languages).