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Unit 6: Predicates, Referring Expressions and Universe of Discourse
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Unit 6: Predicates, Referring Expressions and Universe of Discourse
- Rosari Prima Dewanti (2016001001)
- Adrianus Indra Juwono (2016001013)
Referring Expression
It is any expression used in an utterance to refer to something or someone (or a clearly delimited collection of things or people).
Some expressions are almost alwa...
Some expressions are almost always referring expressions no matter what sentences they occur in.
- The proper name 'Mohammed Ali' c...
- The proper name 'Mohammed Ali' can never be used as the predicator of a sentence
- The proper name 'Cairo' can never be used as a predicator of a sentence.
- In general, proper names can never be used as predicators.
Predicate
Predicate
It is any word (or sequence of words) which in a given single sense can function as the predicator of a sentence.
The presence of predicate in a referring expressi...
The presence of predicate in a referring expression helps the hearer to identify the referent of a referring expression.
EXAMPLE:
EXAMPLE:
Imagine the situation where you and I are in a room with a man and a woman, and I say to you (making no visual gesture), ‘She stole my wallet’.
Would you be able to identify the referent of 'She'?
Predicates vs Referring Expression
Predicates vs Referring Expression
- The distinction between referring expressions and predicates is absolute:
- There is not a continuum running from proper names at one end, through ‘borderline cases’ to verbs and prepositions at the other.
- Either an expression is used in a given utterance to refer to some entity in the world or it is not so used.
Generic Sentence
It is a sentence in which some statement is made about a whole unrestricted class of individuals, as opposed to any particular individual.
Generic Sentence
Example
Example
- 'The whale is a mammal' is a generic sentence.
Example
- 'The whale in the picture below is a mammal' is not a generic sentence.
Example
- 'Superheroes have superpowers' is a generic sentence.
Example
- 'The superhero has superpower' is not a generic sentence.
Rule
Rule
Note that generic sentences can be introduced by either A or THE (or neither)
Language & Semantics
Language & Semantics
Language
Language
Language is used to talk about the REAL world, and can be used to talk about an infinite variety of abstractions, and even of entities in imaginary, unreal worlds.
Semantics
Semantics
- Semantics is concerned with the meaning of the words and sentences.
- It can refer to any entity in the REAL or IMAGINARY world.
The Universe of Discourse
It is any UTTERANCE as the particular world, REAL or IMAGINARY (or part real, part imaginary) that the speaker assumes he is talking about AT THE TIME.
Example 1
Example 1
When an astronomy lecturer, in a serious lecture, states that the Earth revolves around the Sun, the universe of discourse is, we all assume, the REAL world (or universe).
Example 2
Example 2
- Tony Stark is a fictional character in the marvel universe
- In this picture he is driving an Audi R8, which actually exist.
Example 3
Example 3
When we watch the series Game of Thrones...
...and we see a dragon destroying an army...
...the universe of discourse is NOT THE REAL WORLD but a FICTITIOUS WORLD.
- There is interaction between the FA...
- There is interaction between the FACT and FICTION, between real and imaginary worlds.
- When two people are arguing at cross-purposes, they could be said to be working within partially different universes of discourse.
Summary
Referring Expression
In the course of a sequence of utterances, speakers use referring expressions to refer to entities which may be concrete or abstract, real or fictitious.
Referring Expression
Predicates
The predicates embedded in a referring expression help the hearer to identify its referent.
Predicates
Semantics & Language
Semantics is not concerned with the factual status of things in the world but with meaning in language.
Semantics & Language
The Universe of Discourse
The notion of universe of discourse is introduced to account for the way in which language allows us to refer to non-existent things.