Difference between revisions of "Presupposition"
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| − | + | ==Definition== | |
The old information in a sentence that forms the background for the new information, that is usually called the [[focus]]. If we see a sentence as the answer to a question, then the presupposition is the information that was already part of the question. | The old information in a sentence that forms the background for the new information, that is usually called the [[focus]]. If we see a sentence as the answer to a question, then the presupposition is the information that was already part of the question. | ||
| − | + | == Example == | |
| − | Q: Who is taking care of Mary? | + | Q: Who is taking care of Mary? |
| − | |||
A: John '''is taking care of Mary''' | A: John '''is taking care of Mary''' | ||
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The presupposition of sentence A is boldfaced in B. The focus is ''John''. The [[topic]], ''Mary'' in this case, is part of the presupposition. | The presupposition of sentence A is boldfaced in B. The focus is ''John''. The [[topic]], ''Mary'' in this case, is part of the presupposition. | ||
| − | + | == Semantics == | |
| − | |||
Condition that has to be fulfilled for a sentence to be either true or false. The sentence has no truth value if the presupposition fails to hold. Presuppositions can be triggered by specific words or constructions, like [[definite description]]s, [[factive predicate]]s and [[cleft]]s. The presupposition of a sentence A is entailed by both A and the negation of A. | Condition that has to be fulfilled for a sentence to be either true or false. The sentence has no truth value if the presupposition fails to hold. Presuppositions can be triggered by specific words or constructions, like [[definite description]]s, [[factive predicate]]s and [[cleft]]s. The presupposition of a sentence A is entailed by both A and the negation of A. | ||
| − | + | == Example == | |
A: It is John who is taking care of Mary | A: It is John who is taking care of Mary | ||
-A: It isn't John who is taking care of Mary | -A: It isn't John who is taking care of Mary | ||
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P is the presupposition of both A and its negation -A, triggered by the cleft construction. Both A and -A are infelicitous if the presupposition is not satisfied. | P is the presupposition of both A and its negation -A, triggered by the cleft construction. Both A and -A are infelicitous if the presupposition is not satisfied. | ||
| − | + | == Links == | |
| − | |||
[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Presupposition&lemmacode=1651 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | [http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Presupposition&lemmacode=1651 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics] | ||
| + | == References == | ||
| + | * Levinson, Stephen C. 1983. ''Pragmatics.,'' Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. | ||
| − | === | + | ==Other languages== |
| − | + | German:[[Präsupposition]] | |
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{{dc}} | {{dc}} | ||
| + | [[Category:Pragmatics]] | ||
[[Category:Syntax]] | [[Category:Syntax]] | ||
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Latest revision as of 19:05, 27 September 2014
| STUB |
Definition
The old information in a sentence that forms the background for the new information, that is usually called the focus. If we see a sentence as the answer to a question, then the presupposition is the information that was already part of the question.
Example
Q: Who is taking care of Mary? A: John is taking care of Mary
The presupposition of sentence A is boldfaced in B. The focus is John. The topic, Mary in this case, is part of the presupposition.
Semantics
Condition that has to be fulfilled for a sentence to be either true or false. The sentence has no truth value if the presupposition fails to hold. Presuppositions can be triggered by specific words or constructions, like definite descriptions, factive predicates and clefts. The presupposition of a sentence A is entailed by both A and the negation of A.
Example
A: It is John who is taking care of Mary -A: It isn't John who is taking care of Mary P: Someone is taking care of Mary
P is the presupposition of both A and its negation -A, triggered by the cleft construction. Both A and -A are infelicitous if the presupposition is not satisfied.
Links
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics
References
- Levinson, Stephen C. 1983. Pragmatics., Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Other languages
German:Präsupposition
