The Dynamics of Description  

Oleh:

Eijck, Jan Van

Jenis: Article from Journal - ilmiah internasional
Dalam koleksi: Journal of Semantics (Sebagian Full Text) vol. 10 no. 3 (Mar. 1993), page 239-267.
Topik: dynamic predicate logic; descriptions;
Fulltext: vol 10, no 3, p 239-267.pdf (1.37MB)

Isi artikel

In a static approach to the semantics of natural language, the use of definite and indefinite descriptions encounters certain difficulties. This paper shows that these problems can to a large extent be overcome by switching to a dynamic perspective, and demonstrates how description operators acquire a new lustre and attractiveness in a dynamic set-up. The starring point of this paper is dynamic predicate logic. The paper first extends the semantics of dynamic predicate logic (Groenendijk & Stokhof 1991) with a clause for definite 1 assignment. The constructs for indefinite and definite assignment (rj and 1) allow a very straightforward analysis of indefinite and definite descriptions in natural language. It is shown how the standard semantics for 1 assignment (van Eijck & de Vries 1992) leads to a Russellian treatment of definite descriptions. A Hoare/Pratt-style calculus of assertions for dynamic predicate logic is presented, and it is demonstrated how the axiom schemata of the calculus allow for the calculation of success conditions (static truth conditions) or, equivalently, for the calculation of failure conditions (static falsity conditions) of dynamic predicate logic programs. Next, the dynamic semantics is enriched with error states, intended to monitor failure of uniqueness presuppositions for definite descriptions. The semantic clause for ( assignment can now take the presuppositions of the use of definite descriptions into account, which gets us a Strawsonian treatment of definites. It is indicated how a Hoare/Pratt-style calculus for the error state semantics can be set up. The paper ends with a demonstration of the use of this calculus for finding success conditions, failure conditions, and error conditions (conditions for presupposition failure). It is also shown that the axiom system may serve as a calculus of presupposition projection.

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