Exercise Types of Presuppositions: Difference between revisions

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{You will now read a short extract and a few sentences. Since you have certainly read read all about presuppositions and their types (see [[NMTS-Group3#Examples| the examples on the wikipage of Group 3]]) can you figure out where those presuppositions are and what type they are?
{The sentences in '''A''' presuppose the sentence '''B'''. Determine the type of presupposition.
|type="()"}
|type="[]"}
| existential | factive | lexical | structural | Non- factive | Counterfactual
| existential | factive | lexical | structural | non-factive | counterfactual
+----- Where is the man with the megaphone? The fair boy shook his head. This is an island. At least I think it‘s an island. That‘s a reef out in the sea. Perhaps there aren‘t any grownups anywhere. (Source: Wiliam Golding, Lord of the flies, p.7/8)
+----- '''A''': The fair boy shook his head. '''B''': There is a boy who is fair.
|| There is a boy who is fair haired. Presupposition: fair
|| Definite NPs make an existential presupposition.
--+--- I used to eat meat on a regular basis but since my sister works on a dairy farm I quit eating meet again.
--+--- '''A''': I stopped eating meat. '''B''': I used to eat meat
|| trigger word used to+ again, also existential presupposition sister
|| The presupposition trigger is the word ''stop''.
---+-- What movie did you end up watching last friday?
---+-- '''A''': What movie did you end up watching last friday? '''B''': The addressee watched a movie last friday.
|| What indicates a structural presupposition
|| Wh-questions presuppose that there is an instance of what is being asked for.
----+- I wish I wouldn't have eaten these delicious fries with extra ketchup, now I have to get changed.
--+-+- '''A''': I wish I wouldn't have eaten these delicious fries with extra ketchup, now I have to get changed. '''B''': The speaker has eaten these delicious fries with extra ketchup.
|| trigger word wish
|| ''wish'' presupposes the non-factivity of its complement.
-----+ If I would not have eaten so much over the holidays I would still fit my favorite jeans.
---+-+ '''A''': If I would not have eaten so much over the holidays I would still fit my favorite jeans. '''B''': The speaker has eaten so much over the holidays.
-+---- Tomorrow in a week is our 4th anniversary.
|| The counterfactual ''if'' clause structurally triggers that the negation of the proposition in the ''if'' clause is presupposed.
-++--- '''A''': Alex knew that Chris didn't call. '''B''': Chris didn't call.
|| ''know'' is a factive verb, i.e., the truth of its complement is presupposed.
---+-- '''A''': It was in the opera that I have lost my glasses. '''B''': I have lost my glasses somewhere.
|| In an''it''-cleft the truth of the ''that''-clause is structurally presupposed.


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Latest revision as of 23:45, 8 September 2013

The following material is an adapted form of material created by student participants of the project e-Learning Resources for Semantics (e-LRS).
Involved participants: Katharina, Caterina, Daniela, Eva

Types of presuppositions

The sentences in A presuppose the sentence B. Determine the type of presupposition.

existential factive lexical structural non-factive counterfactual
A: The fair boy shook his head. B: There is a boy who is fair.
A: I stopped eating meat. B: I used to eat meat
A: What movie did you end up watching last friday? B: The addressee watched a movie last friday.
A: I wish I wouldn't have eaten these delicious fries with extra ketchup, now I have to get changed. B: The speaker has eaten these delicious fries with extra ketchup.
A: If I would not have eaten so much over the holidays I would still fit my favorite jeans. B: The speaker has eaten so much over the holidays.
A: Alex knew that Chris didn't call. B: Chris didn't call.
A: It was in the opera that I have lost my glasses. B: I have lost my glasses somewhere.


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