The Category P Features, Projections, Interpretation

219
.
( le NP/PP) becomes the external argument of the complex AP predicate and is assigned
to the subject of the TC.
Before I conclude, let me clarify a particular aspect of the interpretation of the
TC.
5.5.1.6 The interpretation of the saturated argument: Recall that I assume that
the external theta-role of the le N undergoes obligatory Arbitrarization (Θ SatARB ),
namely a variable interpreted as [+human] (x ARB ) is introduced (Chierchia 1995).
This, however, should not be taken to underlie the generic, quasi-universal
interpretation associated with the TC (93): 61
(93) ha-sefer kal li-kri’a
the-book easy to-reading
“The book is easy to read.”
Roughly: ∀x [the book is easy for x to read]
For one, the OPC is not interpreted on a par with the TC (94a). More
significantly, when the Agent of a “regular” Hebrew nominal is implicit, it is
interpreted as [+human] (Siloni 1997), indicating that it is x ARB . However, it is
interpreted as existentially, rather than universally, bound (94b):
(94) a. dan hevi et ha-oto le-tikun
Dan brought Acc the car to-repairing
Roughly: ∃x ARB [Dan brought the car for x ARB to repair]
b. harisat ha-bayit
destruction the-house (CS)
“the destruction of the house”
Roughly: ∃x ARB [x ARB destroyed the house]
*∀x ARB [x ARB destroyed the house]
61 In the present discussion I abstract away from the universal/arbitrary/generic distinction (see
Chierchia 1995). I use the universal quantifier, even if the interpretation is clearly arbitrary/generic, just
to distinguish this interpretation from the existential one.