On the interpretation of semantic relations in the absence of syntactic structure

In order to yield the intended interpretation for quantified or incomplete expressions, a compositional interpretation based on syntactic structure alone is not always possible. In the interpretation of these expressions, contextual information plays an important role. In general, we argue that context allows for a set of possible interpretations of an expression. Subsequently, syntax may reduce this set of interpretations to yield a specific interpretation.

Petra Hendriks and Helen de Hoop