Semantic test

Semantic test

Relative Scope

(6)Provide distinct paraphrases for the following semantically ambiguous sentences

(i) Everybody didn’t leave the party – It is not the case that every boy left the party

Not>every boy>party

(ii) John didn’t go to a class – It is not the case that John went to class

Not>John>class

(iii) A guard stood in front of every building – There is a guard that stood in front of every building

Guard>in front>building

(iv)Based on your answer in (iii), provide a situation in which one of the readings is true while the other is false

A guard did not stand in front of every building – A guard stood in front of a building

Not every building had a guard standing in front of it

(4). Based on W2, determine the denotation for each of the following phrases and sentences

a). [[Flying  dog(s)]] – {goofy, snoopy, kitty}

b). [[Threatening pet(s)]] – {kitty}

c). [[silly but talkative dog(s)]] – {snoopy}

d). [[Flying pet(s) that never eat – {kitty}

Assumptions and Presuppositions

(5) What are the assertions and presuppositions of the following sentences if there are any? (Support your answers with a diagnostic for assertions and presuppositions)

(i) The queen of Nigeria was aware that the king of New York gave a speech yesterday

Assertion: The above sentence is an assertion

Presupposition: The queen of Nigeria exists

The king of New York exists

A speech was given yesterday

• Peter quit gambling

Assertion: The above question is an assertion

Presupposition: Peter used to gamble

• Frank believes that John’s daughter was in school

Assertion: The above question is an assertion

Presupposition: John has a daughter

John’s daughter attends school

Complete the following based on W1

• Every semanticist is a woman – True
• Every phonologist is a woman – False
• Every pet owner is a semanticist – True
• Some phonologists have a pet – False
• Every dark-haired woman has a pet – True
• Less than three pet owners are a woman – True
• No man is sporty – True
• Some phonologist is sporty and has dark hair – False

Entailment

1. Specify the entailment relations or lack of which between the following sentences Explain your answer. (4 pts.)
   (i)Some men like coffee – synthetic sentence

(ii)The number is 7 even – contradiction

(a).Does (i) entail (ii)   YES / NO

(i)does not entail (ii) since their meanings are not related. Synthetic sentences cannot entail contradiction

(b) Does (ii) entail (i)    YES / NO

(ii)does not entail (i) since we cannot construct a situation where 2 is true but one is false. Some men like coffee maybe true but the number 7 is not even. It is odd.

2. Specify the entailment relations or lack of which between the following sentences. Explain your answer

• John read more than four novels last week
• John read more than two books last week

Does (i) entail (ii)?  YES / NO

(i) entails (ii) since they have related meanings in that both situations are true

Does (ii) entail (i)?  YES / NO

(ii) entails (i) since the situation where (i) is true and (ii) is false does not exist