{"word_count": 138, "character_count": 920}
PresentationThe notion of a variable plays a prominent role in semantic and syntactic theorising. The lectures will clarify the concept of a variable as understood in the formal sciences and seek to show that such a notion has no application to natural language syntax. On the basis of three case studies, the lectures will contend that the common appeal to variables within semantic theory is inappropriate in having no syntactic correlate - at best, the variable is a theoretical artefact.John Collins (UEA/EHESS) Calendar: Wednesday January 16th and 23rd, Wednesday February 6th and 13th. Seminar: EHESS de F. R&#233;canati, 105 Bd Raspail, salle 7, 15:00 to 17:00ProgramI -&#160;Wednesday January 16thThree grades of variable involvement ; or why there are no variables in syntaxII - Wednesday January 23rdWeather reportsIII - Wednesday February 6thPredicates of personal tasteIV - Wednesday February 13thIndefinites