PRE5UPPO5ITION

Lapang ArI Nazara

Sludonls of Non-RoguIai CIass of LngIish Toaching Sludy Iiogian
IacuIly of Lducalion and Toachoi Tiaining
Chiislian Univoisily of Indonosia

A. INTRODUCTION
Iiosupposilions aio slalononls in vhich sono unslalod oIononl nusl lo assuncd (pio-
supposod) lo lo liuo in oidoi foi lho slalononl lo nako sonso (lo lo liuo oi faIso). Thal is, lho
suifaco sliucluio of lho slalononls (lho spocific voids and lhoii noanings) onil oi olscuio
lho doop sliucluio of lho slalononls (lhoii undoiIying nossago oi piosupposod liulhs). In lho
Mola ModoI, piosupposilion foins aio nanod foi lho nannoi in vhich lho sonloncos lhal
conlain lhon oilhoi doIolo oi olscuio lho piosupposilion fion lho suifaco sliucluio.
Iiosupposilions aio al onco lho nosl povoifuI, piovaIonl, difficuIl lo iocognizo, and
inpoilanl lo undoisland of aII lho Mola ModoI foins. Thoy can lo povoifuIIy Iifo onhancing,
oi lhoy can convoy lho nosl dosliuclivo nossagos of nogalivo sponsoiship and "lhoughl
viiusos" (uniocognizod Iiniling loIiofs) vilhoul piosonling anylhing oljoclionalIo in lho
suifaco Ianguago. WhiIo lho conscious nind allonds lo lho suifaco sliucluio, lho unconscious
giasps and iosponds lo lho doop sliucluio - lho piosupposilion - vilhoul ioasonod ioviov,
anaIysis, oi piocoss of conscious accoplanco oi iojoclion. In voilaIIy alusivo foins,
piosupposilions aio oflon slackod in nuIlipIo Iayois and aio doIivoiod vilh a sponlanoous
iapidily vhich nakos offoclivo chaIIongo difficuIl oi of Iinilod vaIuo.
Rocognilion of piosupposilions is an ossonliaI skiII in nainlaining nonlaI and physicaI
hoaIlh, vholhoi lho Ianguago is loing usod ly anolhoi oi ly onosoIf. On lho posilivo sido,
piosupposilionaI slalononls can lo povoifuI doIivoiy vohicIos foi onpovoiing nossagos of
sponsoiship and soIf-osloon. Mosl of lho oxanpIos givon hoio aio nogalivo-conlonl
piosupposilions, sinco iocognilion of nogalivo piosupposilions is of innodialo vaIuo lo
hoaIlh. Il is Iofl as an oxoiciso lo lho ioadoi lo consliucl oxanpIos of posilivo conlonl
piosupposilions.
. DI5CU55ION

1. On LcarnIng PrcsuppnsItInns
Tho losl vay lo nako uso of lho foIIoving Iisl of piosupposilions and lhoii oxanpIos is
sinpIy lo ioad lhiough lhon, do youi losl lo undoisland lhon as you ioad, nolo lhoso vhich
aio oasy lo iocognizo, and login luiIding faniIiaiily vilh lho iosl ono ly ono. Loaining lo
hoai and iocognizo piosupposilions al fiisl nay soon a daunling lask, sinco sono of lhon aio
nol al aII olvious and lho liain has lo do significanl voik lo oxliacl lhon fion lho suifaco
sliucluio of lho Ianguago. Wilh piosupposilions, ils vhal you dcn| soo oi hoai lhal is lho
piosupposilion.
Anolhoi good Ioaining oxoiciso is lo lako a piosupposilionaI foin and consliucl youi ovn
oxanpIos of il. Doing so viII oxoiciso youi liain, Iiko Ioaining a nov Ianguago. ul donl Iol
lho olvious offoil discouiago you. Youi liain is snailoi lhan you nay lhink. Il aIioady
knovs vhal lo do vilh piosupposilions. Il usos lhon aII lho lino, non-consciousIy. Ils youi
ccnscicus avaionoss lhal noods liaining.
Tho noio you faniIiaiizo youisoIf vilh lhon, lho noio lhoy viII sink in unliI, afloi a vhiIo,
youi liain logins lo piosonl lhon lo youi conscious allonlion in suipiising and olvious
vays. }usl piosonl lho infoinalion lo youi liain onough linos, and ask il lo cioalo
piosupposilions and, lofoio you knov il, piosupposilions viII IiloiaIIy junp oul al you in
ovoiyday spooch and inloinaI lhinking palloins!
. Typcs and Examp!cs
1. SinpIo Iiosupposilions:
Tho sinpIo oxislonco of sonolhing, sonoono, oi sono pailicuIai lypo oi ioIo of sonolhing oi
sonoono is piosupposod.
a. Iiopoi Nanos
Whon a piopoi nano is usod, a poison il loIongs lo is piosupposod lo oxisl.
"Mr. Handscnc Iofl a nossago foi you."
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio oxisls sonoono nanod, oi vho couId lo caIIod, Mi. Handsono.
l. Iionouns
Whon a pionoun is usod, il piosupposos lho oxislonco of sonoono il iofois lo.
"I sav nin Ioavo."
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio oxisls sono naIo.
"| lhink lhoiofoio | an." (Dcscar|cs)
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio oxisls an 'I' lo lhink.
c. Dofinilo Dosciiplions
Rofoiiing lo sonoono oi sonolhing in loins of a dofinilion of ioIo, calogoiy, oi olhoi
chaiacloiislic piosupposos lho oxislonco of lhal 'sonoono' oi 'sonolhing' in lhal ioIo oi
calogoiy lo vhich lho dofinilion appIios. Whon usod nolaphoiicaIIy, lhis foin of
piosupposilion oflon has lho suifaco sliucluio of chaiacloioIogicaI nolaphoi.
"Why shouId vo havo lo valch advoilising lofoio a novio lhal vo jusl paid lo soo` Andy
Roonoy lhinks lhoio shouId lo a Iav naking novio lhoalois loII you oxaclIy vhal lino lho
shov - nol |nc adtcr|ising - logins."
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio viII lo advoilising.
"I onco askod ny fivo-yoai-oId nophov, 'Who lioko lho fonco`' (I had soon hin do il.) Ho
ansvoiod, 'Tnc nurdcrcrs.' Who couId aiguo`" (S|cpnanic |ricsscn, 'Tnc laqs lc |ic',
Ccnpanicn in|c |nc Daun. |nncr Dia|cgucs cn |cting, 1994)
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio aio nuidoiois (pIausilIy noaily)
"Whal is qcur prco|cn`"
- Iiosupposilion: You havo a piolIon.
"Uh-oh, hoio conos |nc c|cpnan|."
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio oxisls sonoono oi sonolhing dosciilalIo as "lho oIophanl".
"You aio nol inloIIigonl onough lo figuio oul |nc puzz|c."
- Thoio aio nuIlipIo piosupposilions hoio:
- Thoio is a puzzIo.
- Tho puzzIo can lo figuiod oul.
- Il lakos inloIIigonco lo figuio oul lho puzzIo.

d. Conoiic Noun Ihiasos
Noun aigunonls slanding foi a vhoIo cIass.
"Mcnnq's-ocqs havo lo sil in lho lack soal"
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio aio poopIo vhoso idonlily can lo dosciilod as "nonny's-loys."
o. Sono Quanlifiois
aII, oach, ovoiy, sono, nany, fov, nono
"|cu daddy's-giiIs giov up lo lo happy."
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio aio poopIo vhoso idonlily can lo dosciilod as "daddy's giiIs."
"Ncnc of lho losl poopIo vouId Iiko you."
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio aio losl poopIo.
2. ConpIox Iiosupposilions
Casos in vhich noio lhan lho sinpIo oxislonco of an oIononl is piosupposod.
a. RoIalivo CIausos
ConpIox noun aigunonls, vilh a noun foIIovod ly a phiaso loginning vilh: vho, vhich,
vilh, oi lhal (oflon onillod).
"Tho ugIy jackol j|na|] you koop voaiing nakos no sick."
- Iiosupposilion: You koop voaiing an ugIy jackol.
"Tho poopIo unc aio saying j|na|] you'io nol doing a good jol don'l knov vhal lhoy'io
laIking aloul."
- Iiosupposilion: Sono poopIo aio saying you'io nol doing a good jol.
"Of couiso, I an jusl ono nan and lhal is jusl ny opinion. Olhois ui|n Ioss oxpoiionco aio fioo
lo lhink olhoiviso. " -- Maik Tvain
- Iiosupposilion: Thoso vho lhink olhoiviso havo Ioss oxpoiionco.
"Aio lhoso lho poopIo junc] you vanl laIking lo youi Cod foi you`" (Prcacncr in |nc 1997
nctic, 'Ccn|ac|')
- Iiosupposilion: You vanl sonoono laIking lo youi Cod foi you. (Scc a|sc Mc|a Mcdc|
'|i|ncr/Or' - Nc|icc |na| ansucring ci|ncr 'qcs' cr 'nc' |c |nc qucs|icn ta|ida|cs |nc prcsuppcsi|icn.)
"Youi sinpIo cooking unicn is good onough foi us von'l do foi ny faniIy vhon lhoy cono lo
visil."
- Iiosupposilion: Youi cooking is sinpIo.
l. Suloidinalo CIausos of Tino
CIausos idonlifiod ly lho cuo voids: lofoio, afloi, duiing, as, sinco, lack, piioi, vhon, vhiIo.
"If anyono hoaid you during ono of youi vhining opisodos lhoy'd knov hov insuffoialIo you
aio."
- Iiosupposilion: You havo vhining opisodos.
"Wo can sliII gol lhoio in lino af|cr you lako oui lags lo lho chock-in if you huiiy."
- Iiosupposilion: You viII lako oui lags lo lho chock-in.
"lncn you'io oIdoi you'II undoisland vhal I'n saying."
- Iiosupposilion: You don'l undoisland nov.
- Iiosupposilion: You'io nol oId onough lo undoisland.
- Iiosupposilion: oing oIdoi viII onalIo you lo undoisland.
"lncn il happons, il viII happon vilhoul any vaining."
- Iiosupposilion: Il viII happon.
"Pricr lo oui IillIo laIk Iasl nighl lhings voio fino."
-Iiosupposilion: Wo had "a IillIo laIk" Iasl nighl. (AIso a Dcfini|c Dcscrip|icn: "IillIo laIk", o.g.,
vhal vo had Iasl nighl vas a |i|||c |a||. -- This oxanpIo is lakon fion a ioaI Iifo ovonl in vhich
lho spoakoi, in an oul of conlioI iago, lhioalonod physicaIIy vioIonco upon an innoconl
poison and, lho noxl day, dosciilod his oniagod lhioals as "a IillIo laIk.")
"I onIy gol nad al you af|cr you do sonolhing slupid."
-Iiosupposilion: You do slupid lhings.
"Invoslois aio pulling lhoii nonoy oac| lo voik." -- (TdAnoiiTiado.con lv ad, CS,
1/24/2O1O, AIC IoollaII pIayoff, CoIls vs }ols)
-Iiosupposilion: Invoslois sloppod pulling lhoii nonoy lo voik.
l2. Suloidinalo CIausos of Localion
CIausos idonlifiod ly lho cuo void: vhoio.
"lncrc did you gol a ciazy idoa Iiko lhal`"
- Iiosupposilion: You gol lho idoa fion sonovhoio -- olhoi lhan youisoIf.
(Nolo: lho chaiacloiizalion, "crazq," is in lho surfacc sliucluio, nol lho dccp sliucluio. Dolaling
vholhoi lho idoa vas ciazy oi nol ,..0598 lho piosupposilion lhal lho idoa vas nol ono's
ovn.)
c. CIofl Sonloncos
Sonloncos loginning vilh "Il |vas/isj..." noun aigunonl.
"||'s youi snugnoss lhal iiks no."
- Iiosupposilion: Sonolhing iiks no. (AIso piosupposos lhal lho spoakoi is in a posilion
vhich is supoiioi oi oljoclivo onough lo alsoIuloIy chaiacloiizo 'snugncss' as an alliilulo of
unc qcu arc .)
d. Isoudo-CIofl Sonloncos
Idonlifiod ly lho foin, "Whal |phiasoj is |phiasoj."
"lna| ho hopos lo do is nako anonds."
- Iiosupposilion: Ho hopos lo do sonolhing.
"lna| youi inlonlionaI nagging is doing is iuining oui ioIalionship."
-Iiosupposilion: You aio inlonlionaIIy nagging.
"I lhink una| you'io liying lo say is, 'Shul up.'"
-Iiosupposilion: You aio liying unsuccossfuIIy lo say sonolhing.
o. Sliossod Sonloncos (VocaI slioss)
"If you voio lolhoiing YOUR OSS you'd gol fiiod."
- Iiosupposilion: You lolhoiod sonoono.
(Conlinod vilh CIofl Sonlonco)
"If il vas YOUR OSS you voio lolhoiing, you'II gol fiiod."
- Iiosupposilion: You voio lolhoiing sonoono.
"So il vas }IMMY vho sonl you!"
- Iiosupposilion: You voio sonl.
f. ConpIox Adjoclivos
Usago: Nov, oId, foinoi, piosonl, piovious, fuluio
"Youi fu|urc huslands viII undoullodIy lo noio salisfacloiy."
- Iiosupposilion: Youi piosonl naiiiago viII nol Iasl and you viII ionaiiy noio lhan onco.
"Ho is nol prcscn||q loing slupid."
- Iiosupposilion: Ho oilhoi has loon, oi viII lo slupid.
g. OidinaI NunoiaIs
Usago: fiisl, socond, onco, lhiid, noxl, anolhoi, Iasl
"Tho ncx| lino you doIiloialoIy Iook ugIy I'n slaying hono."
- Iiosupposilion: You doIiloialoIy Iook ugIy nov, oi havo doIiloialoIy Iookod ugIy in lho
pasl.
"Thal is lho |as| lino I'n going lo pul up vilh lhal!"
- Iiosupposilion: I pul up vilh sonolhing nuIlipIo linos.
"NaluiaIIy, I couId lo viong. Il happonod cncc lofoio."
- Iiosupposilion: I havo onIy ovoi loon viong onco.
h. Conpaialivos
Usago: -oi, noio, Ioss
"If you knov oc||cr Iovois lhan Suo doos, loII no vho lhoy aio."
- Iiosupposilion: Suo knovs al Ioasl ono Iovoi.
Conpaialivo Voils
Usago: dislinguishing, diffoionlialing, liying lo
"You aio dis|inguisning youisoIf fion lho noids vilh lhoso shoos."
- Iiosupposilion: You aio a noid.
"Sho's jusl |rqing |c lo diffoionl."
- Iiosupposilion: Sho is nol diffoionl.
]udgc. "Aio you |rqing lo shov conlonpl foi lhis couil`"

IIovoi oIIo: "No, youi honoi, I'n doin' ny losl lo hido il!"
- Iiosupposilion (on lho pail of lho judgo): IIovoi oIIo nay nc| lo succooding in sncuing hoi
conlonpl foi lho couil.
- Iiosupposilion (on lho pail of IIovoi oIIo): Sho is nc| succooding in nc| shoving hoi
conlonpl foi lho couil..
-- Movio: "My LillIo Chickadoo" (194O), Mao Wosl and W.C. IioIds.
i. Conpaialivo As
Usago: ...as x as...
"Whon youi laslo is as gccd as nino you can docido vhal lo luy."
- Iiosupposilion: My laslo is good.
j. Ropolilivo Cuo Woids
Usago: loo, aIso, oilhoi, again, lack
"If you loII no lhal again, I'II scioan."
- Iiosupposilion: You havo loId no lhal (al Ioasl onco).
"If you vouId jusl Iovo no oac|, I'd lo nico."
- Iiosupposilion: You don'l Iovo no
"|i|ncr gol snail oi lo quiol."
- Iiosupposilion: You aio nol snail.
k. Ropolilivo Voils and Advoils
Voils and advoils loginning vilh io-. LxanpIos: iopoalodIy, ioluin, iosloio, ioloII, iopIaco,
ionov
"Whon you rcp|acc youi vig, I'II go oul vilh you."
- Iiosupposilion: You voai a vig.
"Whon youi sanily rc|urns, vo'II laIk."
- Iiosupposilion: You havo Iosl youi sanily.
"Ho'II rcs|crc honoi and dignily lo oui cIul."
- Iiosupposilion: Oui cIul onco had honoi and dignily and doos nol havo lhon nov.
I. QuaIifiois
Usago: onIy, ovon, oxcopl, jusl
"Thal's jus| lho vay I an."
- Iiosupposilion: Thal's lho onIy vay I can lo.
"On|q you couId lo so donso."
- Iiosupposilion: You aio donso.
"|tcn you couId undoisland."
- Iiosupposilion: You aio slupid.
"ChoinolyI vas lho dosign disasloi. Iiisl of aII, lho Soviols had nuch voakoi and Ioss safo
dosigns foi lhoii nucIoai povoi pIanls lhan ctcn lho U.S. nanufacluiois of nucIoai povoi
pIanls."
(Ra|pn Nadcr, His|crq Cnannc| |n|crticu, '|nginccring Disas|crs' 1999)
- Iiosupposilion: Tho U.S. had voak and unsafo dosigns
"Sho vas jus| a pioslilulo."
- Iiosupposilions: Sho vas nolhing noio.
"OI' Moilon viII havo lo sign an 'X' locauso cn|q foui of us can viilo." (|rcn |nc 2000 nctic.
'O 8rc|ncr lncrc Ar| Tncu')
- Iiosupposilion: Thoio aio noio lhan foui of us. (In lho novio, foui nusicians aio aloul lo
lo paid in cash ly a lIind pioducoi -- vho doosn'l knov hov nany of lhon lhoio aio -- onco
lhoy havo signod a conliacl.) Nolo lhal "Moilon" is a sinpIo Prcpcr Nanc piosupposilion (soo
alovo) lhal sonoono nanod "Moilon" oxisls in lhis conloxl.
n. Chango-of-IIaco Voils
Usago: cono, go, Ioavo, aiiivo, dopail, ioluin, onloi
"You viII nol lo voIcono vhon you rc|urn."
- Iiosupposilion: You viII Ioavo, aio Ioaving, oi havo Iofl.
n. Chango-of-Tino Voils & Advoils
Usago: login, ond, slop, slail, conlinuo, piocood, aIioady, yol, sliII, anynoio, viII
"Sho hasn'l liokon up vilh you qc|."
- Iiosupposilion: Sho viII lioak up vilh you.
"I can a|rcadq soo you aio changing."
- Iiosupposilion: You havo changod.
"li|| lho univoiso Iasl foiovoi`"
- Iiosupposilion: Il nighl nol.
o. Chango-of-Slalo Voils
Usago: chango, liansfoin, luin inlo, locono
"Things viII Iook diffoionl vhon you occcnc a nan."
- Iiosupposilion: You aio nol a nan nov.
"Sho |urncd in|c a scioaning lanshoo fion HoII."
- Iiosupposilion: Sho vas pioviousIy sonolhing oIso.
p. Iaclivo Voils and Adjoclivos
Usago: odd, avaio, knov, ioaIizo, iogiol
"Il is cdd lhal you novoi louch no unIoss you vanl sox."
- Iiosupposilion: You novoi louch no unIoss you vanl sox.
"Slop and rca|izc lhal I Iovo you."
- Iiosupposilion: You do nol ioaIizo lhal I Iovo you.
q. Connonlaiy Adjoclivos and Advoils
Usago: Iucky, foilunaloIy, oxcoIIonl, gioal, innoconlIy, happiIy, nocossaiiIy
"Il's grca| lhal vo can finish oach olhoi's sonloncos."
- Iiosupposilion: Wo can finish oach olhoi's sonloncos.
i. CounloifacluaI CondilionaI CIausos
Voils having suljunclivo lonso
"If you nad |is|cncd lo no, you vouIdn'l lo in lhis posilion."
- Iiosupposilion: You didn'l Iislon lo no.
- Iiosupposilion: I loId you sonolhing.