Improving the semantic map of additivity: universal concessive conditionals and indefinite pronouns

Abstract In the present paper, I propose an improvement to the semantic map of additivity by Diana Forker. Additive markers are focus-sensitive operators that trigger the presupposition that the proposition in their scope is satisfied by at least one alternative to the focused element (e.g., English also , too ). In many languages, additive markers are polyfunctional and may occur in e.g., constituent coordination, indefinite pronouns, and/or concessives. I first discuss Forker’s original semantic map of additivity and a subsequent modification by Martina Faller. I then revert some of the changes made by Faller and instead make two suggestions of my own, based on a convenience sample of 48 languages (from 36 different families, covering all macro-areas). First, the ‘concessive’ node in Forker’s map should be split up into two nodes: concessives proper (‘although p , q ’) and concessive conditionals (‘if { p 1 , p 2 , p 3 , …}, q ’). Second, indefinites should not be connected to scalar additives, but to concessive conditionals. More specifically, free-choice indefinites (FCIs) should be connected to universal concessive conditionals (UCCs). Finally, I briefly discuss the diachronic directionality of this connection, focusing on the question of whether FCIs are recruited to form UCCs or whether they develop from UCCs.