A Choice Function Analysis of Either in the Either/or Construction

Abstract

In this paper, I propose an analysis that covers both the wide scope or reading of the either/or construction and the availability of Alternative Question and Yes/No Question readings, namely a hybrid of an ellipsis analysis and a choice function analysis of either. After presenting two sets of data, I introduce two hybrid analyses that combine an ellipsis analysis and a choice function analysis. The two differ from each other in terms of the item that introduces the choice function variable: in the first analysis, the disjunction particle or introduces the choice function variable while in the second analysis, either has that semantic role. It is demonstrated that the two analyses both account for the either/or construction data, whereas only the second hybrid analysis, in which either introduces the choice function variable, explains the Alternative Question and Yes/No Question data. Finally, I review another account proposed in previous research, namely the focus alternative semantics analysis, and point out its problems.