UNIT 2

UTTERANCE, SENTENCE AND PROPOSITION

Objective of the study: To understand the kind of family tree relationship between propositions, sentences, and utterances. I. Utterance: Is any stretch of talk, by one person, before and after which there is a silence on the part of that person / physical events are lasting for short times. An utterance use by: - a particular speaker - a particular accasion - a piece of language, such as: a sequence of sentences a single sentence a single clause a single phrase a single word Example : John: Who is she? Nancy: I`ve never seen her before

II. Sentence: is neither a physical event nor a physical object / defined as a string of words put together by the grammatical rules of a language. a sentence can be : thought of as an ideal string of words behind various realizations in utterances and inscriptions - cenceived abstractly - consists of : - the same words and the same order - Any change in the words or in order makes a different sentence. Example: John only loves Mary Only John loves Mary Semantics: is concerned with the meaning of NON Sentences such as: words, phrases, just as much as with whole sentences that involve propositions

III. Proposition : is that part of the meaning of the utterances of a declarative sentence / imperative / interrogative which describes some state of affairs typically involves: persons / things referred to by expression in the sentence. In uttering a declarative sentence: a speaker typically assert a proposition. The notion of : a proposition is central to semantics truth can be used to declare wheter two sentences express different propositions : 1. True propositions correspond to facts. (can be known imperative/interrogative) Example : Can Herman do the job? 2. False propositions do not correspond to facts (declarative sentence). Example : Herman can do the job. Example: 1. Is it a fact that there are tigers in Kalimantan jungles? Yes / No. (is the proposition that there are tigers Kalimantan jungles a true proposition? / interrogative) Propositions involved: - in the meanings of declarative sentences. - in the meanings of other types of sentences such: (Imperative/interrogative)

Note: Two sentences in different Languages can correspond to the same proposition, if: The two sentences are perfect translation of each other. Example: I have accepted her invitation Saya telah menerima undangannya (perempuan) Proposition unlike sentences: if can not be said to belong to any particular language. Family relationship between: Proposition, sentence and utterance. Proposition: - is an object of thought. - are not equal to thought THOUGHT: because are usually held to be private personal, mental processes, where as propositions are public. Some Important Point: a. Sentences are written in Italic typeface b. Utterances are written between double quotation marks. c. Propositions are written in a different way which will be presented later.