Differential Comparatives

@cite{schwarzschild-2005} @cite{solt-2015} @cite{winter-2005}

Empirical data on differential comparatives: constructions that specify the extent of the comparison ("3 inches taller", "twice as expensive", "much faster").

Key Empirical Patterns

1. Measure phrase differentials require specific scale structure: "3 inches taller" ✓ but "*3 units more beautiful" ✗ (ratio scale needed).
2. Factor phrases ("twice as tall") require the equative, not the comparative (*"twice taller than").
3. Degree modifiers ("much", "slightly", "a lot") are less restrictive than measure phrases — they work with open scales.

structure Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.MeasurePhraseComparativeDatum : Type

A measure phrase differential datum: a numeric amount specifying the extent of comparison.

• sentence : String
• acceptable : Bool
• scaleType : String

  What kind of scale does the adjective have?

• measurePhrase : String

  The measure phrase

def Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprMeasurePhraseComparativeDatum.repr : MeasurePhraseComparativeDatum → Nat → Std.Format

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instance Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprMeasurePhraseComparativeDatum : Repr MeasurePhraseComparativeDatum

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• Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprMeasurePhraseComparativeDatum = { reprPrec := Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprMeasurePhraseComparativeDatum.repr }

def Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.measurePhraseExamples : List MeasurePhraseComparativeDatum

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structure Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.FactorPhraseDatum : Type

Factor phrase data: multiplicative comparison ("twice", "three times").

• sentence : String
• acceptable : Bool
• factor : String

  Factor ("twice", "three times", etc.)

• construction : String

  Equative or comparative?

instance Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprFactorPhraseDatum : Repr FactorPhraseDatum

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• Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprFactorPhraseDatum = { reprPrec := Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprFactorPhraseDatum.repr }

def Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprFactorPhraseDatum.repr : FactorPhraseDatum → Nat → Std.Format

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def Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.factorPhraseExamples : List FactorPhraseDatum

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structure Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.DegreeModifierDatum : Type

Degree modifier data: "much", "slightly", "a lot", "far".

• sentence : String
• acceptable : Bool
• modifier : String
• requiresComparison : Bool

  Does the modifier require a comparison construction?

def Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprDegreeModifierDatum.repr : DegreeModifierDatum → Nat → Std.Format

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instance Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprDegreeModifierDatum : Repr DegreeModifierDatum

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• Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprDegreeModifierDatum = { reprPrec := Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.instReprDegreeModifierDatum.repr }

def Phenomena.Comparison.Comparative.Differential.degreeModifierExamples : List DegreeModifierDatum

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