ExCh1 Ambiguity 1a-b: Difference between revisions
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The two readings are: | The two readings are: | ||
:: (a) ''Pat knew no guest at the party.'' | Reading 1: Not > Some | ||
More formally: ''It is not the case that there was a guest at the party that Pat knew.'' | :: (a) ''Pat knew no guest at the party.'' | ||
::More formally: ''It is not the case that there was a guest at the party that Pat knew.'' | |||
Reading 2: Some > Not | |||
:: (b) ''There was one guest at the party Pat didn't know.''<br /> | :: (b) ''There was one guest at the party Pat didn't know.''<br /> | ||
More formally: ''There was a guest at that party such that it is not the case that Pat knew this guest.'' | :: More formally: ''There was a guest at that party such that it is not the case that Pat knew this guest.'' | ||
Revision as of 05:51, 28 September 2012
Example sentence: Pat didn't know a guest at the party.
Yes, your answer is correct!
This is a structural ambiguity.
The two readings are: Reading 1: Not > Some
- (a) Pat knew no guest at the party.
- More formally: It is not the case that there was a guest at the party that Pat knew.
Reading 2: Some > Not
- (b) There was one guest at the party Pat didn't know.
- More formally: There was a guest at that party such that it is not the case that Pat knew this guest.
- (b) There was one guest at the party Pat didn't know.
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