But, scalar implicatures and covert quotation operators

Abstract

This paper deals with a cross linguistically productive, yet puzzling construction which we call x but (really) X (e.g. John is always but (really) ALWAYS late), which surprisingly combines contrast and strengthening. We examine, but reject, an initial analysis where the conjuncts of but in this construction are domain-based or degree-based scalar alternatives and where the second, semantically stronger conjunct rejects a scalar implicature of the first. We then develop a revised analysis where but is under the scope of a covert quotation operator (as in ‘mixed quotations’). The analysis captures the ‘metalinguistic’ flavor of x but X and the contribution of the ‘contrastive’ semantics of but to the strengthening effect of the whole construction, and is shown to avoid over-generation risks.