Graduierung nicht skalarer Verben

Abstract

Abstract The paper deals with degree gradation of verbs in German. Gradation is a process of comparing degrees on a scale but not all gradable verbs lexicalize a suitable gradation scale. In the paper, a definition of ‘lexically scalar predicate’ is proposed and based on that definition, it is argued that some gradable verbs are not lexically scalar. I argue essentially that such verbs require the activation of a gradation scale. The scale is licensed by the lexical semantics of the gradable verb but retrieved from the conceptual knowledge associated with the verb.