Hadas Kotek
Biographic Data
| ID | 801428 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Hadas Kotek |
| GIVEN NAMES | Hadas |
| FAMILY NAME | Kotek |
| SIGNATURE | KOTEK H |
| AFFILIATIONS | New York University |
| ORCID | 0009-0006-0360-2105 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 16 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 16 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Mention versus Action: Guiding safety policy for content related to harmful topics
As generative AI systems are integrated into high-stakes domains, designing safety policies that accurately distinguish harmful from harm-free content has become a central challenge. A natural starting point is the use/mention distinction from linguistics and philosophy of language: content that merely mentions a harmful topic is typically less harmful than content that uses it to express harm. However, we argue that this binary is insufficient a…
Arguments for top-down derivations in syntax
This paper argues for a top-down approach to syntactic structure building, instead of the more popularly assumed bottom-up approach. We present phenomena where properties of a higher structure condition elements or operations in a lower domain. The opposite pattern is, we claim, much rarer and more restricted. This follows from a top-down approach, given the relative time at which elements are integrated into the structure. Bottom-up derivations,…
The Open Letter: Responses and recommendations
Since its publication in July 2020, the Open Letter to the LSA regarding Steven Pinker has evoked many passionate reactions. The letter argued that Pinker's public statements are inconsistent with the LSA’s anti-racist values, asking to revoke Pinker's status as LSA Fellow and to remove him from the LSA's list of Media Experts. Signed by 600+ linguists, the letter has generated vigorous debate within and outside linguistics. This talk pushes the …
Gender bias in linguistics textbooks: Has anything changed since Macaulay & Brice 1997
Macaulay and Brice (1997:798) surveyed example sentences in eleven syntax textbooks published from 1969–1994 and found that virtually all of the authors ‘favor male-gendered NPs as subjects and agents, and regularly stereotype both genders’. In this article, we address the question of whether constructed example sentences in more recent textbooks show similar gender bias. We present an analysis of six syntax textbooks published from 2005–2017, fr…
Gender bias in linguistics textbooks: Has anything changed since Macaulay & Brice 1997
Macaulay and Brice (1997:798) surveyed example sentences in eleven syntax textbooks published from 1969–1994 and found that virtually all of the authors ‘favor male-gendered NPs as subjects and agents, and regularly stereotype both genders’. In this article, we address the question of whether constructed example sentences in more recent textbooks show similar gender bias. We present an analysis of six syntax textbooks published from 2005–2017, fr…
Gender bias and stereotypes in linguistic example sentences
This article examines the distribution of gender in arguments in example sentences in contemporary linguistics publications. Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically underrepresent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997, Pabst et al. 2018). Here we examine example sentences in articles published over the past twenty years in Language, Linguistic Inquiry , and Natural Language…
Gender bias and stereotypes in linguistic example sentences
This article examines the distribution of gender in arguments in example sentences in contemporary linguistics publications. Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically underrepresent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997, Pabst et al. 2018). Here we examine example sentences in articles published over the past twenty years in Language , Linguistic Inquiry , and Natural Languag…
Gender representation in linguistic example sentences
Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically under-represent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997; Pabst et al. 2018). We examine the articles published over the past 20 years in Language, Linguistic Inquiry, and Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, and find striking similarities to this prior work. Among our findings, we show a stark imbalance of male (N=10807) to female (N=5…
Wh-indeterminates in Chuj (Mayan)
This article investigates the varied uses of wh -words in Chuj, an understudied Mayan language of Guatemala. Cross-linguistically, wh -words are commonly used not only for question formation but also in a range of other constructions, including wh -quantification, indefinites, and the formation of relative clauses. In Chuj, we will show that wh -words are used to form indefinites (in certain limited environments), universal quantifiers, free choi…
Multiple Sluicing, Scope, and Superiority: Consequences for Ellipsis Identity
This article defends a semantic identity account of ellipsis licensing. The argument comes from examples of multiple sluicing, especially from Russian. Concentrating on antecedents that contain two quantified statements, we uncover a surprising asymmetry: surface scope antecedents can license a multiple sluice, but inverse scope antecedents cannot. We explain this finding in terms of semantic accounts of ellipsis licensing, where ellipsis is lice…
Focus Association by Movement: Evidence from Tanglewood
We argue for the existence of covert focus movement in English focus association with only. Our evidence comes from Tanglewood configurations of the form in Kratzer 1991 . We show that Tanglewood configurations are sensitive to syntactic islands, contrary to Kratzer's claims and predictions. We propose that Tanglewood configurations always involve covert movement of the focused constituent-possibly with covert pied-piping-to bind a bound variable…
Dissociating intervention effects from superiority in English wh-questions
In wh -questions, intervention effects are detected whenever certain elements – focus-sensitive operators, negative elements, and quantifiers – c-command an in-situ wh -word. Pesetsky (2000, Phrasal movement and its kin . Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) presents a comprehensive study of intervention effects in English multiple wh -questions, arguing that intervention correlates with superiority: superiority-violating questions are subject to interventi…
A streamlined approach to online linguistic surveys
Covert Pied-Piping in English Multiple Wh -Questions
In this article, we argue for the existence of covert pied-piping in wh-questions through a previously unnoticed pattern of intervention effects in Superiority-obeying English multiple wh-questions. We show that the preference of covert pied-piping, unlike that of overt pied-piping, is for movement of larger constituents. We argue that this discrepancy stems from conflicting requirements of PF and LF: overt pied-piping feeds both LF and PF, but c…
Experimental investigations of ambiguity: The Case of Most
Wh-Fronting in a two-probe system
A streamlined approach to online linguistic surveys
Covert Pied-Piping in English Multiple Wh -Questions
In this article, we argue for the existence of covert pied-piping in wh-questions through a previously unnoticed pattern of intervention effects in Superiority-obeying English multiple wh-questions. We show that the preference of covert pied-piping, unlike that of overt pied-piping, is for movement of larger constituents. We argue that this discrepancy stems from conflicting requirements of PF and LF: overt pied-piping feeds both LF and PF, but c…
Multiple Sluicing, Scope, and Superiority: Consequences for Ellipsis Identity
This article defends a semantic identity account of ellipsis licensing. The argument comes from examples of multiple sluicing, especially from Russian. Concentrating on antecedents that contain two quantified statements, we uncover a surprising asymmetry: surface scope antecedents can license a multiple sluice, but inverse scope antecedents cannot. We explain this finding in terms of semantic accounts of ellipsis licensing, where ellipsis is lice…
Gender bias and stereotypes in linguistic example sentences
This article examines the distribution of gender in arguments in example sentences in contemporary linguistics publications. Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically underrepresent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997, Pabst et al. 2018). Here we examine example sentences in articles published over the past twenty years in Language , Linguistic Inquiry , and Natural Languag…
Focus Association by Movement: Evidence from Tanglewood
We argue for the existence of covert focus movement in English focus association with only. Our evidence comes from Tanglewood configurations of the form in Kratzer 1991 . We show that Tanglewood configurations are sensitive to syntactic islands, contrary to Kratzer's claims and predictions. We propose that Tanglewood configurations always involve covert movement of the focused constituent-possibly with covert pied-piping-to bind a bound variable…
Experimental investigations of ambiguity: The Case of Most
Wh-Fronting in a two-probe system
Experimental investigations of ambiguity: The Case of Most
A streamlined approach to online linguistic surveys
Covert Pied-Piping in English Multiple Wh -Questions
In this article, we argue for the existence of covert pied-piping in wh-questions through a previously unnoticed pattern of intervention effects in Superiority-obeying English multiple wh-questions. We show that the preference of covert pied-piping, unlike that of overt pied-piping, is for movement of larger constituents. We argue that this discrepancy stems from conflicting requirements of PF and LF: overt pied-piping feeds both LF and PF, but c…
Dissociating intervention effects from superiority in English wh-questions
In wh -questions, intervention effects are detected whenever certain elements – focus-sensitive operators, negative elements, and quantifiers – c-command an in-situ wh -word. Pesetsky (2000, Phrasal movement and its kin . Cambridge, MA: MIT Press) presents a comprehensive study of intervention effects in English multiple wh -questions, arguing that intervention correlates with superiority: superiority-violating questions are subject to interventi…
Multiple Sluicing, Scope, and Superiority: Consequences for Ellipsis Identity
This article defends a semantic identity account of ellipsis licensing. The argument comes from examples of multiple sluicing, especially from Russian. Concentrating on antecedents that contain two quantified statements, we uncover a surprising asymmetry: surface scope antecedents can license a multiple sluice, but inverse scope antecedents cannot. We explain this finding in terms of semantic accounts of ellipsis licensing, where ellipsis is lice…
Focus Association by Movement: Evidence from Tanglewood
We argue for the existence of covert focus movement in English focus association with only. Our evidence comes from Tanglewood configurations of the form in Kratzer 1991 . We show that Tanglewood configurations are sensitive to syntactic islands, contrary to Kratzer's claims and predictions. We propose that Tanglewood configurations always involve covert movement of the focused constituent-possibly with covert pied-piping-to bind a bound variable…
Wh-indeterminates in Chuj (Mayan)
This article investigates the varied uses of wh -words in Chuj, an understudied Mayan language of Guatemala. Cross-linguistically, wh -words are commonly used not only for question formation but also in a range of other constructions, including wh -quantification, indefinites, and the formation of relative clauses. In Chuj, we will show that wh -words are used to form indefinites (in certain limited environments), universal quantifiers, free choi…
Gender representation in linguistic example sentences
Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically under-represent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997; Pabst et al. 2018). We examine the articles published over the past 20 years in Language, Linguistic Inquiry, and Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, and find striking similarities to this prior work. Among our findings, we show a stark imbalance of male (N=10807) to female (N=5…
Gender bias in linguistics textbooks: Has anything changed since Macaulay & Brice 1997
Macaulay and Brice (1997:798) surveyed example sentences in eleven syntax textbooks published from 1969–1994 and found that virtually all of the authors ‘favor male-gendered NPs as subjects and agents, and regularly stereotype both genders’. In this article, we address the question of whether constructed example sentences in more recent textbooks show similar gender bias. We present an analysis of six syntax textbooks published from 2005–2017, fr…
Gender bias in linguistics textbooks: Has anything changed since Macaulay & Brice 1997
Macaulay and Brice (1997:798) surveyed example sentences in eleven syntax textbooks published from 1969–1994 and found that virtually all of the authors ‘favor male-gendered NPs as subjects and agents, and regularly stereotype both genders’. In this article, we address the question of whether constructed example sentences in more recent textbooks show similar gender bias. We present an analysis of six syntax textbooks published from 2005–2017, fr…
Gender bias and stereotypes in linguistic example sentences
This article examines the distribution of gender in arguments in example sentences in contemporary linguistics publications. Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically underrepresent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997, Pabst et al. 2018). Here we examine example sentences in articles published over the past twenty years in Language, Linguistic Inquiry , and Natural Language…
Gender bias and stereotypes in linguistic example sentences
This article examines the distribution of gender in arguments in example sentences in contemporary linguistics publications. Prior studies have shown that example sentences in syntax textbooks systematically underrepresent women and perpetuate gender stereotypes (Macaulay & Brice 1994, 1997, Pabst et al. 2018). Here we examine example sentences in articles published over the past twenty years in Language , Linguistic Inquiry , and Natural Languag…
Arguments for top-down derivations in syntax
This paper argues for a top-down approach to syntactic structure building, instead of the more popularly assumed bottom-up approach. We present phenomena where properties of a higher structure condition elements or operations in a lower domain. The opposite pattern is, we claim, much rarer and more restricted. This follows from a top-down approach, given the relative time at which elements are integrated into the structure. Bottom-up derivations,…
The Open Letter: Responses and recommendations
Since its publication in July 2020, the Open Letter to the LSA regarding Steven Pinker has evoked many passionate reactions. The letter argued that Pinker's public statements are inconsistent with the LSA’s anti-racist values, asking to revoke Pinker's status as LSA Fellow and to remove him from the LSA's list of Media Experts. Signed by 600+ linguists, the letter has generated vigorous debate within and outside linguistics. This talk pushes the …
Mention versus Action: Guiding safety policy for content related to harmful topics
As generative AI systems are integrated into high-stakes domains, designing safety policies that accurately distinguish harmful from harm-free content has become a central challenge. A natural starting point is the use/mention distinction from linguistics and philosophy of language: content that merely mentions a harmful topic is typically less harmful than content that uses it to express harm. However, we argue that this binary is insufficient a…
Linguistics (15 works) · Philosophy (11 works) · Psychology (9 works) · Computer Science (8 works) · Syntax (8 works) · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation (7 works) · Gender Studies in Language (5 works) · Discourse Analysis in Language Studies (4 works) · History (4 works) · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies (4 works)