The document describes seven types of sentences:
1. Equative sentences assert that two referring expressions refer to the same thing.
2. Generic sentences make statements about whole classes rather than individuals.
3. Analytic sentences are necessarily true due to the meanings of the words used.
4. Synthetic sentences are not analytic and may be either true or false depending on facts.
5. Contradictory sentences are necessarily false due to the meanings of the words used.
The document describes seven types of sentences:
1. Equative sentences assert that two referring expressions refer to the same thing.
2. Generic sentences make statements about whole classes rather than individuals.
3. Analytic sentences are necessarily true due to the meanings of the words used.
4. Synthetic sentences are not analytic and may be either true or false depending on facts.
5. Contradictory sentences are necessarily false due to the meanings of the words used.
The document describes seven types of sentences:
1. Equative sentences assert that two referring expressions refer to the same thing.
2. Generic sentences make statements about whole classes rather than individuals.
3. Analytic sentences are necessarily true due to the meanings of the words used.
4. Synthetic sentences are not analytic and may be either true or false depending on facts.
5. Contradictory sentences are necessarily false due to the meanings of the words used.
The document describes seven types of sentences:
1. Equative sentences assert that two referring expressions refer to the same thing.
2. Generic sentences make statements about whole classes rather than individuals.
3. Analytic sentences are necessarily true due to the meanings of the words used.
4. Synthetic sentences are not analytic and may be either true or false depending on facts.
5. Contradictory sentences are necessarily false due to the meanings of the words used.
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Semantic Sentences
Truong Van Anh
HUFLIT Seven kinds of sentences - Equative - Generic - Analytic - Synthetic - Contradiction - Paraphrase (pair) - Contradictory (pair) An EQUATIVE SENTENCE is one which is used to assert the identity of the referents of two referring expressions, i.e. to assert that two referring expressions have the same referent. The following are equative sentences: • That woman over there is my daughter’s teacher. • Quang Trung is Nguyen Hue. > The two referring expressions can replace each other. A GENERIC SENTENCE is a sentence in which some statement is made about a whole unrestricted class of individuals, as opposed to any particular individual. Ex: The whale is a mammal (understood in the most usual way) is a generic sentence. That whale over there is a mammal is not a generic sentence. The cattle have four legs. The poultry have two legs. An ANALYTIC sentence is one that is necessarily TRUE, as a result of the senses of the words in it. An analytic sentence, therefore, reflects a tacit (unspoken) agreement by speakers of the language about the senses of the words in it. Ex: All elephants are animals. Gold is a precious metal. A typhoon can destroy a large building. > When we know exactly a sentence is true, it is an analytic sentence. A SYNTHETIC sentence is one which is NOT analytic, but may be either true or false, depending on the way the world is. Ex: John is from Ireland. John is rich. There is nothing in the senses of John or Ireland or from which makes this necessarily true or false. When we don’t know if a sentence is right or wrong, it is a synthetic sentence. A CONTRADICTION is a sentence that is necessarily FALSE, as a result of the senses of the words in it. Thus a contradiction is in a way the opposite of an analytic sentence. Ex: “This animal is a vegetable” is a contradiction. This must be false because of the senses of “animal “and “vegetable”. “Both of John’s parents are married to aunts of mine” is a contradiction. This must be false because of the senses of “both parents”, “married”, and “aunt”. Two sentences may be said to be PARAPHRASES of each other if and only if they have exactly the same set of ENTAILMENTS; or, which comes to the same thing, if and only if they mutually entail each other so that whenever one is true the other must also be true. It rains heavily The roads are wet. One-way entailment He supports us We are supported by him. Two-way entailment A CONTRADICTORY sentence is antonym to another sentence. It is impossible for both propositions to be true at the same time and of the same circumstances. Alternatively (and equivalently) a sentence contradicts another sentence if it entails the negation of the other sentence. Ex: This beetle is alive is a contradictory of This beetle is dead. Exercise: Answer the following questions with YES or NO. If you think it is correct, circle the letter Y, if you think it is incorrect, circle the letter N. 1. Is Einstein is a great man an equative sentence? 2. Is Our next guest is Dr Kunastrokins an equative sentence? 3. Is A wasp makes its nest in a hole in a tree a generic sentence? 4. Is That cat loves her child very much a generic sentence? 5. Is Bachelors are unmarried an analytic sentence? 6. Is That boy is very generous an analytic sentence? 7. Is John killed Bill, who remained alive for many years after a contradictory sentence? 8. Is Jack is right contradictory to Jack is wrong? 9. Is Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam a synthetic sentence? 10. Is The girl has lived in a poor village a synthetic sentence? Good luck!
