Universe of discourse: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 16:51, 24 August 2014

Definition

Universe of discourse is the set of entities we are talking about when using a sentence. Also called domain of discourse.

Example

In using (i)a the universe of discourse can be all human beings (and the sentence is most certainly not true), or it may be a restricted set of human beings (and the sentence may very well be true). In (i)b the universe of discourse has been explicitly restricted by the adjunct in this room.

(i) a  everyone is happy
    b  everyone in this room is happy

Links

Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

References

Gamut, L.T.F. 1991. Logic, language, and meaning, Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+==Definition==
 '''Universe of discourse''' is the set of entities we are talking about when using a [[sentence]]. Also called ''domain of discourse''.
-=== Example ===
+== Example ==
+In using (i)a the universe of discourse can be all human beings (and the sentence is most certainly not true), or it may be a restricted set of human beings (and the sentence may very well be true). In (i)b the universe of discourse has been explicitly restricted by the adjunct ''in this room''.
-in using (i)a the universe of discourse can be all human beings (and the sentence is most certainly not true), or it may be a restricted set of human beings (and the sentence may very well be true). In (i)b the universe of discourse has been explicitly restricted by the adjunct ''in this room''.
   (i) a  everyone is happy
       b  everyone in this room is happy
-=== Links ===
+== Links ==
+*[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Universe+of+discourse&lemmacode=136 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics]
-[http://www2.let.uu.nl/UiL-OTS/Lexicon/zoek.pl?lemma=Universe+of+discourse&lemmacode=136 Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics]
-=== References ===
+== References ==
 * Gamut, L.T.F. 1991. ''Logic, language, and meaning,'' Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago.
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 [[Category:Semantics]]
-{{stub}}{{cats}}{{format}}
+{{stub}}{{cats}}