| Abstract: | In this article I address the issue of the interpretation of the Dutch particle -wel-. Despite the great variation in meaning, the interpretation of -wel- causes no problem most of the time. The interpretation relies partly on the stress on -wel-. However, when written language is involved, a hierarchy in the interpretation of the word together with two constraints determine the optimal interpretation within a context. The different uses of wel vary in strength according to the force of the negation they react on. The constraints STRENGTH and FIT make us pick the right interpretation within that hierarchy. |
