Semantics circle: Relative Atomicity

Abstract

The standard model-theoretic approach to nominal number assumes what I call Absolute Atomicity, the assumption that a model comes with an individuated domain of atomic entities and plural entities are constructed out of them as mereological sums. I argue that Absolute Atomicity will require some unnatural assumptions, when sub-atomic quantification is taken into consideration. I advocate an alternative approach, Relative Atomicity, where atomicity is only introduced in the course of semantic composition via the meanings of nouns, and discuss its consequences on old issues such as the mass/count distinction.