English Semantics
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MODULE 7
Sentences, Utterances, and
Propositions
Instructor: Lam Hoang Phuc
7.1. Utterances
▪ An utterance is any stretch of talk, by one person, before
and after which there is silence on the part of that person.
▪ An utterance is the use by a particular speaker, on a
particular occasion, of a piece of language, such as a
sequence of sentences, or a single phrase, or even a single
word.
▪ Utterances are physical events. And events are
ephemeral.
7.2. Sentences
▪ A sentence is a grammatically complete string of words
expressing a complete thought. A sentence is neither a
physical event nor a physical object.
▪ A given sentence always consists of the same words, and
in the same order. Any change in the words, or in their
order, makes a different sentence.
E.g.
7.2. Sentences
▪ It would make sense to say that an utterance was in a
particular accent. However, it would not make strict sense
to say that a sentence was in a particular accent. Accent
and voice quality belong strictly to the utterance, not to
the sentence uttered.
▪ Not all utterances are actually tokens of sentences, but
sometimes only of parts of sentences, e.g. phrases or
single words.
▪ Any string of words that does not have a verb in it is not
considered a sentence.
E.g.
I would like a cup of coffee is a sentence.
Coffee, please is not a sentence.
7.2. Sentences
▪ The abstract idea of a sentence is the basis for
understanding even those expressions which are not
sentences. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the
meanings of non-sentences can best be analysed by
considering them to be abbreviations, or incomplete
versions, of whole sentences.
E.g.
- Magnus: ‘When did Goethe die?’
- Fred: ‘In 1832’ (‘Goethe died in 1832’)
7.3. Propositions
▪ A proposition is that part of the meaning of the utterance
of a declarative sentence which describes some state of
affairs.
▪ The notion of truth can be used to decide whether two
sentences express different propositions. Thus if there is
any conceivable set of circumstances in which one
sentence is true, while the other is false, we can be sure
that they express different propositions.
E.g. Isobel loves Tony and Tony loves Isobel express different
propositions since one could be true and the other false.
7.3. Propositions
▪ True propositions correspond to facts, in the ordinary
sense of the word fact. False propositions do not
correspond to facts.
▪ One can entertain propositions in the mind regardless of
whether they are true or false, e.g. by thinking them, or
believing them. But only true propositions can be known.
7.3. Propositions
▪ Normally, when a speaker utters a simple declarative
sentence, he commits himself to the truth of the
corresponding proposition: i.e. he asserts the proposition.
By uttering a simple interrogative or imperative, a speaker
can mention a particular proposition, without asserting its
truth.
▪ E.g. In saying, ‘John can go’ a speaker asserts the
proposition that John can go. In saying, ‘Can John go?’, he
mentions the same proposition but merely questions its
truth. We say that corresponding declaratives and
interrogatives (and imperatives) have the same
propositional content.
7.3. Propositions
▪ Summary of the relationships between the notions of
utterances, sentences, and propositions:
▪ A single proposition could be expressed by using several
different sentences (say, Prince William will inherit the
throne, or The throne will be inherited by Prince William)
and each of these sentences could be uttered an infinite
number of times.
REFERENCES
Hurford, J. R., Heasley, B. & Smith, M. B. (2007).
Semantics: A course book. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
