Les différentes interprétations de pareil ou comment un adjectif relationnel devient un marqueur anaphorique

Abstract

Marleen Van Peteghem : Interpreting pareil or how a relational adjective becomes an anaphoric device Pareil is a relational adjective, which expresses a relation of identity between two or more entities. Unlike même and différent, it does not give rise to referentially dependent interpretations. Nevertheless the arguments of the relation can be expressed in various ways, which allows us to distinguish three different uses of pareil: (i) pareil used with an overt item of comparison, taking the form of a PP introduced by the preposition à; (ii) an anaphorical use of pareil, in which one of the arguments of the relation is expressed in the preceding context, and finally (iii) an internal or reciprocal use of pareil, in which the different arguments are expressed by the plural NP pareil is predicated of. The aim of this contribution is to study the factors that bring about the latter two interpretations. It is shown that the anaphorical reading is the most frequent one and that it is the only one possible whenever pareil is used attributively preceding the noun. In these uses, pareil is very close to tel: both adjectives establish what could be called a generic anaphora. As for the reciprocal interpretation, it is made possible by the presence of a quantifier, which focalises the part structure of the referent of the NP. This quantifying element can be a determiner, a floating quantifier, an adverbial or even a durative copular verb such as rester. interpretations. It is shown that the anaphorical reading is the most frequent one and that it is the only one possible whenever pareil is used attributively preceding the noun. In these uses, pareil is very close to tel: both adjectives establish what could be called a generic anaphora. As for the reciprocal interpretation, it is made possible by the presence of a quantifier, which focalises the part structure of the referent of the NP. This quantifying element can be a determiner, a floating quantifier, an adverbial or even a durative copular verb such as rester.