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Volker is right that 'X needs Y' does not imply 'X does not have Y';
at least not in English, German and Cabecar. Cabecar has a close
synonym to 'be needed' and with the same valency frame, viz. 'be
missed'; and this does imply 'lack'.<br>
<br>
Then the question remains what 'need' (in the sense of the three
languages mentioned) means. I am not sure that modality is involved.
Do you need a modal notion to describe the second clause of 'I can't
lend you my computer, I need it' ? Moreover, 'in the best of all
worlds' is, of course, a handy paraphrase which does not directly
map onto a more formal semantic representation.<br>
<br>
'X needs Y' appears to mean 'if X does not have Y, it is bad for X'.
Not sure whether this would imply 'if X has Y, it is good for X', or
if this would correspond well to the meaning of 'X needs Y'.<br>
<br>
If so, this meaning involves an evaluation. I thought that the
benefactive/malefactive roles (incidentally, I think appropriate
terms are 'beneficiary/maleficiary') are essentially characterized
by this evaluative relation. Of course, a relation between the
participant and the situation, not between the speaker and the
situation.<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<p style="font-size:90%">Prof. em. Dr. Christian Lehmann<br>
Rudolfstr. 4<br>
99092 Erfurt<br>
<span style="font-variant:small-caps">Deutschland</span></p>
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