Mayfest 2025 - Constraints on Meaning

Mayfest is a workshop that brings together researchers from a variety of disciplines and perspectives to discuss fundamental issues in linguistics.

In 2025, our Mayfest will ask about "Constraints on Meaning."

It appears that certain meanings are lexicalized in some languages, but not others, while other meanings are not lexicalized in any language.  What are the universal gaps?  We hope to consider this question with 'logical' vocabulary, such as quantifiers, connectives, modals, attitude predicates and focus operators.  For observed universals, we can ask why they hold. Are they due to: constraints in the grammar; biases in acquisition; learnability considerations; processing restrictions; pragmatic principles; or other sources?   In at least some cases, restrictions may result from how the semantics interacts with other components of grammar, or with language-external cognitive systems.  Our aim is to bring together ten researchers who are studying constraints on meaning from a wide range of perspectives, both analytical and experimental.

Details of the schedule, and instructions for registration and attendance, will appear on this page as they become available.