alsoRestrictive

alsoRestrictive is a term used in linguistics and natural language processing to describe a subtype of restrictive modification introduced by the adverb also. It denotes constructions where an additional restrictive condition is asserted alongside a primary restriction, shaping the set of referents more narrowly than the base restriction would alone.

In semantic analyses, the alsoRestrictive operator is viewed as indicating that two restrictions apply in concert rather than simply being listed. The primary restriction identifies the core group, while the alsoRestrictive second condition refines that group further. The exact scope of also can be influenced by focus, syntax, and discourse context, which may alter how tightly the two restrictions interact in interpretation.

Examples help illustrate the concept. In the sentence, Only students who are also athletes were invited, the base restriction targets students, and the alsoRestrictive addition requires those students to be athletes as well. Another case is The committee includes members who are also residents, where residency is an additional criterion layered onto membership.

Distinctions are drawn between alsoRestrictive and ordinary conjunctions or nonrestrictive modifiers. Unlike simple conjunction, alsoRestrictive signals that the extra property is integral to the restricted set. It is often discussed in theoretical accounts of scope, polarity, and the interaction of modifiers in complex noun phrases.

See also: restrictive clause, nonrestrictive relative clause, semantics of conjunctions, natural language processing, formal semantics.