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Dr. P.J.E. (Paul) Dekker

Faculteit der Natuurwetenschappen, Wiskunde en Informatica
ILLC
Fotograaf: Kata Balogh

Bezoekadres
  • Science Park 107
Postadres
  • Postbus 94242
    1090 GE Amsterdam
Contactgegevens
  • Profile
    • oὐκ ἐμοῦ ἀλλὰ τοῦ λόγου ἀκούσαντας ὁμολογεῖν σοφόν ἐστιν ἓν πάντα εἶναι (Herakleitos)
    • Welcome to the page of a researcher studying and teaching in the area of Logic and Language. My work is concerned with the  public and intentional nature of meaning, and my generic interests include belief, indexicality, quantification and satisfaction in discourse.
    • I have been the Amsterdam representative, 2014-25, in the European Network of the Philosophy of Language and Mind (PLM). I have directed MSc Logic program of the University of Amsterdam 2020-23, and I have been the chair of the Standing Committee of the European Summer School in Logic, Language and Information (ESSLLI) for a decade, 2007--17.

    Academic Legacy

    I have compiled my findings from the past 10 years or so in a monograph The Logical Apparance of Meaning. It has served as a subject for contemplation in a workshop devoted to my retirement, January 12--13, 2026. The first chapter outlines the logical spine of a Discourse Presentation Theory. This basic framework has three entirely straightforward extensions, improving our grasp of, respectively, Contextually Restricted Quantification, of Quantification through Conceptual Windows, and of Thought and Talk about Things non-Existent. The three extensions have been independently formulated also in a classical logical formalism, thereby preserving all the results, but not their natural logic and aesthetics. (CRQ, CGQ, TNE) The monograph in addition hosts three small pieces on the declarative, referential and anaphoric logic of names.

    Normal Forms In Intensional Logic

    This paper shows that contrary to what everybody believes, Richard Montague's Intensional Logic has not been established to not be confluent. This paper formally elaborates this idea that I had some 25 years ago. Back then I spend some time on formalizing the idea and working out the proofs but, since the point was topical some 40 year ago, and, as it seemed to me, hardly anybody in the academic world might be interested in it, except possibly Ede Zimmermann, I left the idea and first attempt in my notebook. Ironically, it was Ede himself who recently re-addressed the assumption that I challenged in a workshop devoted to my retirement, so I decided to give the idea a final chance, with this paper as the result.

    The paper is dedicated to the memory of Jeroen A.G.~Groenendijk, Herman L.W.~Hendriks and Theo M.V.~Janssen.

    Paul J. E. Dekker, 2026, "Normal Forms in Intensional Logic", Philosophies 11(4), 140, part of a Special Issue, The Logical Linguistic Legacy of Montague Grammar, edited by Glyn Morrill. https://doi.org/10.3390/philosophies11040140.

     

    ESSLLI 2022

    Below are the slides used in the course Theory of Interpretation that I presented at ESSLLI 2022, in Galway, Ireland, August 8-12. As a tool for the preparation of the first class I have cooked up a handsome, I hope, introduction to Natural Deduction.

    Handbook of Formal Semantics

    (ed. Maria Aloni and Paul Dekker) Appeared in the series Cambridge Handbooks in Language and Linguistics.

    Indexical Inference

    This paper advocates an indexical account of discourse reference, and provides a sound and complete deduction system for a (variable free) system of discourse representation and dynamic interpretation. Review of Symbolic Logic, in 2016.

    Not Only Barbara

    This paper explicates the transparent syllogistics for a cube of oppositions, and pleads for a non-conservative theory of generalized quantifiers in natural language. Journal of Logic, Language and Information, 2015.

    Live Meanings

    This paper is a follow up of the one on Live Compositionality and reflects upon the enterprises of compositional, truth-conditional, contextual and conceptual semantics. In Bridging Formal and Conceptual Semantics, 2017, Kata Balogh and Wiebke Petersen (eds.), Studies in Language and Cognition, Düsseldorf University Press.

    The Logos

    The pre-socratic philosopher Herakleitos has demonstrated a logos, which contains more of a logic then the syllogoi of his postdecessors. In New Dimensions of the Square of Opposition, 2017, Jean-Yves Beziau and Stamatios Gerogiorgakis (eds.), Philosophia Verlag, München.

  • Editions
  • Stuff

    Some propositions, not obviously original, on:

     

     

     

  • Organization

    I was the chair of the  ESSLLI Standing Committee that coodinated the organization and programme of the European Summer Schools in Logic, Language and Information from 2007 till 2018.

    • Sofia, 2018, with Darja Fiser (SC), Petya Osenova and Kiril Simov (OC) and Laura Kallmeyer (PC)
    • Toulouse, 2017, with Laure Vieu (OC) and Shravan Vasishth (PC)
    • Bolzano, 2016, with Diego Calvanese and Rafaella Bernardi (OC) and Claire Gardent (PC)
    • Barcelona, 2015, with Louise McNally (OC), Gemma Boleda (OC/PC) and Achim Jung (PC)
    • Tübingen, 2014, with Gerhard Jäger (OC) and Frank Veltman (PC)
    • Düsseldorf, 2013, with Laura Kallmeyer (OC), Wiebke Petersen  (OC/PC) and Johan Bos (PC)
    • Opole, 2012, with Janusz Czelakowski and Urszula Wybraniec-Skardowska (OC) and Andreas Herzig (PC)
    • Ljubljana, 2011, with Darja Fiser (OC) and Makoto Kanazawa (PC)
    • Kopenhagen, 2010, Vincent Hendricks (OC) and Valentin Goranko (PC)
    • Bordeaux, 2009, with Christian Retoré (OC) Richard Moot (OC/PC) and Uwe Mönnich (PC)
    • Hamburg, 2008, with Benedikt Löwe (OC), Hans van Ditmarsch (OC/PC) and Rineke Verbrugge (PC)

    I have been involved in the organization of the bi-annual Amsterdam Colloquium from 1991 onwards (as chair from the 10-th, 1995 till the 16-th, 2007), and in many other international conferences, workshops and events.

  • Publicaties

    2026

    2017

    2016

    2015

    2014

    • Dekker, P. (2014). The Live Principle of Compositionality. In D. Gutzmann, J. Köpping, & C. Meier (Eds.), Approaches to Meaning: Composition, Values, and Interpretation (pp. 45-84). (Current Research in the Semantics/Pragmatics Interface; Vol. 32). Brill. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004279377_004 [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2014). Herakleitian Oppositions. In J.-Y. Beziau, & K. Gan-Krzywiszynska (Eds.), New Dimensions of the Square of Opposition (Series Analytica). Philosophia Verlag.

    2012

    2011

    • Dekker, P. (2011). Dynamic Semantics. In C. Maienborn, K. von Heusinger, & P. Portner (Eds.), Semantics: An International Handbook of Natural Language Meaning (Vol. 1, pp. 923-945). (Handbücher zur Sprach- und Kommunikationswissenschaft = Handbooks of Linguistics and Communication Science; Vol. 33/1). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110226614.923 [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2011). Jigsaw Semantics. In Formal semantics and pragmatics. Discourse, context and models

    2010

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2010). Only If an Indefinite is Topical, the Pronoun Picks it Up. In Presuppositions and Discourse (Current research in the semantics/pragmatics interface; No. 21). Emerald.
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2010). There is something about Might. In M. Aloni, H. Bastiaanse, T. de Jager, & K. Schulz (Eds.), Logic, Language and Meaning: 17th Amsterdam Colloquium : Amsterdam, The Netherlands, December 16-18, 2009 : revised selected papers (pp. 244-253). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 6042), (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence), (FoLLI Publications on Logic, Language and Information). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14287-1_25 [details]

    2009

    2008

    2007

    • Dekker, P. (2007). Nobody (anything) else. In M. Aloni, A. Butler, & P. Dekker (Eds.), Questions in dynamic semantics (pp. 147-158). (Current research in the semantics/pragmatics interface; No. 17). Elsevier.
    • Dekker, P. (2007). Optimal inquisitive discourse. In M. Aloni, A. Butler, & P. Dekker (Eds.), Questions in dynamic semantics (pp. 83-100). (Current research in the semantics/pragmatics interface; No. 17). Elsevier.
    • Dekker, P., Aloni, M., & Butler, A. (2007). The semantics and pragmatics of questions. In M. Aloni, A. Butler, & P. Dekker (Eds.), Questions in dynamic semantics (pp. 1-40). (Current research in the semantics/pragmatics interface; No. 17). Elsevier.

    2004

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). Cases, adverbs, situations and events. In H. Kamp, & B. Partee (Eds.), Context-dependence in the analysis of linguistic meaning (pp. 383-404). (CRISPI; No. 11). Elsevier. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). Grounding Dynamic Semantics. In A. Bezuidenhout, & M. Reimer (Eds.), Descriptions and Beyond: An Interdiscilpinary Collection of Essays on Definite and Indefinite Descriptions and other Related Phenomena (pp. 484-502). Oxford University Press. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). On context and identity. In H. Kamp, & B. Partee (Eds.), Context-dependence in the analysis of linguistic meaning (pp. 91-116). (CRISPI; No. 11). Elsevier. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). Questions in Context. In R. Asatiani, K. Balogh, G. Chikoidze, P. Dekker, & D. de Jongh (Eds.), Proceedings of the Fifth Tbilisi Symposium on Language, Logic and Computation (pp. 67-74). ILLC, CLLS. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). Satisfying Questions. In C. Meier, & M. Weisgerber (Eds.), Proceedings of the Eighth Annual Meeting Sinn und Bedeutung (pp. 83-94). Universitat Konstanz. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). The pragmatic dimension of indefinites. Research on Language and Computation, 2, 365-399. [details]

    2003

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2003). Existential disclosure. In J. Gutiérrez-Rexach (Ed.), Semantics: Critical Concepts in Linguistics (pp. 234-259). Routledge. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2003). Meanwhile, within the Frege boundary. Linguistics and Philosophy, 26(5), 547-556. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1025896723582 [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2003). Topical restriction and answerhood. In M. Weisgerber (Ed.), Proceedings of the 7th Annual Meeting Sinn und Bedeutung (Vol. 114, pp. 110-119). Universität Konstanz. [details]

    2002

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). A pragmatic view upon indefinites. In R. Kempson, K. von Heusinger, & W. Meyer-Viol (Eds.), Proceedings of the Workshop ''Choice Functions and Natural Language Semantics'' (pp. 17-34). FB Sprachwissenschaft Univ. Konstanz. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). Formele taalspelen. Algemeen Nederlands Tijdschrift voor Wijsbegeerte, 94(2), 151-154. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). Meaning and use of indefinite expressions. Journal of Logic, Language and Information, 11, 141-194. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). Pronouns in a pragmatic semantics. Journal of Pragmatics, 34, 815-827. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-2166(01)00063-7 [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). Something else. In G. Alberti, K. Balogh, & P. J. E. Dekker (Eds.), Proceedings of the Seventh Symposium of Logic and Language (pp. 17-26). University of Pécs. [details]

    2001

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). ''She'' 's character. In M. Bras, & L. Vieu (Eds.), Semantics and Pragmatic Issues in Discourse and Dialogue (pp. 7-28). Elsevier. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). Dynamics and pragmatics of 'Peirce's puzzle'. Journal of Semantics, 18(1), 211-241. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). Meanwhile, within the Frege boundary. In R. van Rooy, & M. Stokhof (Eds.), Proceedings of the Thirteenth Amsterdam Colloquium (pp. 73-78). ILLC/Department of Philosophy. [details]

    2000

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2000). Coreference and representationalism. In K. von Heusinger, & U. Egli (Eds.), Reference and Anaphorical Relations (pp. 287-310). Kluwer. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2000). Support for update semantics (house version). In M. Poesio, & D. Traum (Eds.), Proceedings of Götalog 2000. Fourth Workshop on the Semantics and Pragmatics of Dialogue (pp. 5-12). Department of Linguistics. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2000). The semantics of dynamic conjunction. In J. Seligman, & P. Blackburn (Eds.), Logic, Language and Computation, Vol. III (pp. 105-125). CSLI. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & van Rooij, R. A. M. (2000). Bidirectional Optimality Theory: An application of Game Theory. Journal of Semantics, 17(3), 217-242. [details]

    1999

    • Dekker, P. J. E., & van Rooij, R. A. M. (1999). Optimality Theory and Game Theory. In H. de Hoop, & H. de Swart (Eds.), Papers on Optimality theoretic Semantics (pp. 22-45). Utrecht Institute of Linguistics. [details]

    1998

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1998). Scopes in Discourse. Journal of Language and Computation, 1(1). [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1998). Spreaker's Reference, Descriptions and Information Structure. Journal of Semantics, 15(4), 301-330. [details]

    1996

    1993

    2025

    2024

    2022

    2016

    2007

    • Aloni, M., Butler, A., & Dekker, P. (2007). Questions in dynamic semantics. (Current research in the semantics/pragmatics interface; No. 17). Elsevier. [details]
    • Dekker, P. (2007). De uitleg. Dekker. [details]

    2006

    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Zeijlstra, H. H. (2006). Concord Phenomena and the Syntax-Semantics Interface. ESSLLI. [details]

    2005

    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Franke, M. (2005). Proceedings of the Fifteenth Amsterdam Colloquium. ILLC / Department of Philosophy, University of Amsterdam. [details]

    2004

    • Asatianti, A., Balogh, K., Chikoidze, G., Dekker, P. J. E., & de Jongh, D. H. J. (2004). Proceedings of the Fifth Tbilisi Symposium on Language, Logic and Computation. Tbilisi State University Press. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2004). Contexts for Questions. In L. Hunyadi, G. Rákosi, & E. Tóth (Eds.), Preliminary PapersReceived for LOLA8 (pp. 47-58). University of Debrecen. [details]

    2003

    • Dekker, P. J. E., & van Rooij, R. A. M. (2003). Proceedings of the Fourteenth Amsterdam Colloquium. ILLC. [details]

    2002

    • Alberti, G., Balogh, K., & Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). Proceedings of the Seventh Symposium on Logic and Language. Pécs University. [details]
    • Pauly, M., & Dekker, P. J. E. (2002). Special issue on Logic and Games. (Journal of Logic, Language and Information (JoLLI); No. 11(3)). Springer. [details]

    2001

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). On " If " and "Only". In B. Jackson, R. Hastings, & Z. Zvolenszky (Eds.), Proceedings of SALT XI CLC Publications. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Pinon, C. (2001). Journal of Semantics. Special Issue on Indefinities. Oxford University Press. [details]
    • van Benthem, J., Dekker, P., van Eijck, J., de Rijke, M., & Venema, Y. (2001). Logic in Action. ILLC, University of Amsterdam. [details]

    1999

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1999). Proceedings of the Twelfth Amsterdam Colloquium December 18-21, 1999. ILLC. [details]

    1998

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1998). Dynamics and Pragmatics of "Peirce's Puzzle". In Proceedings of the Sixth Symposium on Logic and Language (pp. 57-66). Research Institute for Linguistics. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1998). The Semantics of Dynamic Conjunction. In Proceedings of ITALLC'98 (pp. 103-115). National Chung Cheng University. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & van Rooij, R. A. M. (1998). Hob Nob Sentences and Hob Nob Situations. In T. Gamkrelidze, & R. Cooper (Eds.), Proceedings of the Second Tbilisi Symposium on Language, Logic and Computation State University. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & van Rooij, R. A. M. (1998). Intentional Identity and Information Exchange. In P. Blackburn, & J. Seligman (Eds.), Proceedings of ITALLC'98 (pp. 197-208). National Chung Cheng University. [details]

    1997

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1997). Chierchia's conjecture. In B. Partee, & H. Kamp (Eds.), Context-dependence in the analysis of linguistic meaning. Volume II: comments and replies (pp. 57-66). IMS. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1997). On context and identity. In B. Partee, & H. Kamp (Eds.), Context-dependence in he analysis of linguistic meaning. Volume 1: Papers (pp. 87-115). IMS. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1997). On denoting descriptions. In J. van der Does, P. Dekker, & H. de Hoop (Eds.), Proceedings of the Groningen Workshop on Definites (pp. 13-36). Utrecht Institute of Linguistics OTS. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1997). On first order information exchange. In G. Jager, & A. Benz (Eds.), Proceedings Mundial '97. Munich workshop on formal semantics and pragmatics of dialogue (pp. 21-39). Universitat Munchen. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., Stokhof, M. J. B., & Venema, Y. (1997). Proceedings of the Eleventh Amsterdam Colloquium. ILLC/UvA. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., van der Does, J. M., & de Hoop, H. (1997). De Dag, Proceedings of a workshop on Definites. onbekend. [details]

    1996

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1996). Definites in perspective. In J. van der Does, P. Dekker, & H. de Hoop (Eds.), Abstracts of the Groningen Workshop on Definites Dutch Graduate School in Logic. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1996). Reference and Representation. In K. von Heusinger, & U. Egli (Eds.), Proceedings of the Konstanz workshop on Reference and Anaphorical Relations FSW, Universitat Konstanz. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Stokhof, M. J. B. (1996). Proceedings of the Tenth Amsterdam Colloquium: December 18-21, 1995. (Proceedings of the Amsterdam Colloquium; No. 10). ILLC/Department of Philosophy, University of Amsterdam. [details]

    1995

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1995). On context and identity. In J. Groenendijk (Ed.), Ellipsis, Underspecification, Events and More in Dynamic Semantics (pp. 117-146). (ESPRIT BR Project 6852; No. R2.2.C). ILLC UvA. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Veltman, F. J. M. M. (1995). Esprit Basic Research project 6852, Dyana. Final Report. ILLC UvA. [details]

    1994

    • Dekker, P. (1994). Predicate logic with anaphora. Proceedings from Semantics and Linguistic Theory, 4, 79-95. https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v4i0.2459 [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1994). Predicate Logic with Anaphora. In J. A. G. Groenendijk, & R. H. Cooper (Eds.), Integrating Semantic Theories II (pp. 1-48). (DYANA-2 Deliverable R2.1.B.). ILLC. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1994). Representation and information in Dynamic Semantics. In D. Westerstahl, & J. Seligman (Eds.), Language, Logic and Computation CSLI. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Blok, P. I. (1994). Dynamic approaches to natural language. vakgroep theoretische wijsbegeerte. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Hendriks, H. L. W. (1994). Files in focus. In E. Engdahl (Ed.), Integrating information structures into Constraint-based and Categorial Approaches (pp. 27-37). (DYANA-2 Deliverable; No. R1.3.B.). ILLC. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Stokhof, M. J. B. (1994). Proceedings of the Ninth Amsterdam Colloquium. ILLC. [details]

    1991

    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Stokhof, M. J. B. (1991). Proceedings of the Eighth Amsterdam Colloquium: December 17-20, 1991. (Proceedings of the Amsterdam Colloquium; No. 8). ILLC, University of Amsterdam. [details]

    1997

    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Beaver, D. I. (1997). Report on ECDS: An interactive course on the internet. vakgroep theoretische wijsbegeerte. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & Hendriks, H. L. W. (1997). Situation semantics. In P. V. Lamarque (Ed.), Concise Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics Elsevier Science Publishers. [details]

    1996

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1996). Cases, adverbs, situations and events. (CWI report; No. CS-R9643). Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science. [details]
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1996). Scopes in discourse. (CWI report; No. CS-R9644). Centre for Mathematics and Computer Science. [details]

    1993

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (1993). Transsentential meditations : ups and downs in dynamic semantics. [Thesis, fully internal, Universiteit van Amsterdam]. [details]

    2003

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2003). The Pragmatic Dimension of Indefinites. (Technical Reports; No. PP-2003-16). Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.

    2001

    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). Dynamics and Pragmatics of Peirce's Puzzle. (Technical Reports; No. PP-2001-12). Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). Meaning and Use of Indefinite Expressions. (Technical Reports; No. PP-2001-11). Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). On " If" and "Only". (Technical Reports; No. PP-2001-14). Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.
    • Dekker, P. J. E. (2001). She's Character. (Technical Reports; No. PP-2001-13). Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.
    • Dekker, P. J. E., & van Rooy, R. A. M. (2001). Bi-Directional Optimality Theory : An Application of Game Theory. (Technical Reports; No. PP-2001-15). Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.
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