On topological properties of the set of maldistributed sequences

The real sequence (xn) is maldistributed if for any non-empty interval I, the set {n ∈𝕅 : xn ∈I} has upper asymptotic density 1. The main result of this note is that the set of all maldistributed real sequences is a residual set in the set of all real sequences (i.e., the maldistribution is a typical property in the sense of Baire categories). We also generalize this result.

The particle ‘ke’ as a differential object and subject marker in Ka’apor

The main purpose of this article is to show that the Ka’apor language exhibits both direct object marking (DOM) and differential subject marking (DSM). This research demonstrates that the particle ke is responsible for triggering these systems, since it is used when agent subjects are semantically affected by the event described by the verb and when objects are high on the animacy scale. In this sense, the DOM mechanism in Ka’apor is regulated by both the animacy and definiteness scales. With regard to DSM, I hypothesize that it emerges as an example of a markedness reversal, since affectedness is not a typical property of subjects, but only of objects. As a result, DSM in Ka’apor is characterized by the fact that only subjects which resemble typical patient objects are overtly case-marked by the particle ke.

Understanding Bald-Faced Lies

Bald-faced lies seem to be lies that lack a typical property of genuine lies, namely the intent of the speaker to deceive the hearer. Therefore, several scholars propose that the intention to deceive should not be part of a proper definition of lying. In contrast to this “non-deceptionist” approach, it has been argued by “deceptionists” that bald-faced lies are either no real lies or that they are connected to an intention to deceive. This paper reports a questionnaire study in which participants were asked whether target utterances in eight cases of putative bald-faced lies were (i) lies, (ii) were deceptive, (iii) and were brazen. Overall, bald-faced lies were considered as lies and as deceptive. With respect to brazenness, participants clearly distinguished between brazen and non-brazen utterances. This shows that the degree of brazenness is an important property of bald-faced lies.

Disambiguierung deutschsprachiger Diskursmarker: Eine Pilot-Studie

Framed within Antoine Culioli's Enunciative Model of language, this article suggests a new analysis regarding the semantic properties of the suffix -esque and argues that this suffix refers to an alterity expressed within a typical property. Moreover this article reassesses earlier findings made about the suffix -esque, namely its low productivity in creation of neologisms and its apparent usage limited to literary and journalistic styles. The alleged constraint for all its bases to be referring to a human being is also reconsidered and our semantic analysis questions the value of "extreme" supposedly added by -esque to the nominal basis. Indeed, its usage in French shows that if this suffix is no longer typically associated to a nominal basis referring to the people of a country (see mauresque or arabesque), the human dimension associated to the nominal basis such as in la soldatesque, is not always found either (see TV-esque). Rather, this suffix seems to have lost its role as a simple identifier towards a referential domain as found in expressions such as une oeuvre molièresque which could be glossed over as "une oeuvre typique de Molière". This identification is most of the time linked to a laudatory or negative appreciation on the part of the enunciator, as found in examples such as gargantuesque. Besides, the contemporary dynamism of the -esque flexion enables the creation of neologisms. These neologisms are derived from proper nouns (mitterrandesque) or from acronyms (rmiesque) that do not exhibit standard properties. This begs the question of whether the value which seemed to be added to the composite [noun + esque] is determined by the suffix itself or whether it is partially connected to the atypical notional value of the root's semantic value.