This document discusses linguistic presuppositions and entailments. Presuppositions are assumptions that a speaker makes before making an utterance, such as assuming the existence of something referred to. Entailments are logical consequences that follow from what is asserted. The document provides examples of different types of presuppositions including lexical, factive verb, and cleft presuppositions. It also discusses how presuppositions can be canceled by entailments and the projection problem where presuppositions do not survive in more complex sentences.

2. O Presupposition: something that the speaker
O
O
O
O
assumes to be the case before making an
utterance
Speaker has presupposition
Entailment: something that logically follows from
what is asserted in the utterance
Sentences have entailments
E.g
Mary’s brother bought three horses

3. Mary’s brother bought three horses
O Presupposition:
- A person called Mary exists and
O held by
the
speaker
O all of them
can be
wrong.
O entailment is the relationship between two sentences
where the truth of one (A) requires the truth of the
other (B).
O (A) The president was assassinated.
entails (B) The president is dead
she has a brother
- she has only a brother and her
brother has a lot of money

4. O Presupposition: relationship between two
propositions
O a sentence that contains a proposition (p) and
another proposition (q):
O Example 1.
a. Mary‟s dog is cute. (=p)
b. Mary has a dog.
(=q)
c. p >> q
O Example 2.
d. Mary‟s dog isn‟t cute. (= NOT p)
e. Mary has a dog.
(=q)
f. NOT p >> q

5. O Example 3.
g. Everybody knows that Jeni is a singer
(=p)
h. Everybody doesn‟t know that Jeni „s a singer (=
NOT p)
i. Jeni is a singer
(q)
j. p >> q and NOT p >> q
O Constancy under negation: presupposition of a
statement will remain constant (i.e. still true) even
when that statement is negated.

6. O potential presupposition: linguistics forms which can
become actual presuppositions in context with
speakers
O Linguistics forms: speakers‟ assumptions in words,
phrases, and structures
O Types of potential presuppositions:

7. O assumption of the existence of the entities named by
the speaker.
O Example: Tom‟s car is new
 presupposition: Tom exists and that he has a
car
O assumption that something is true due to the
presence of some verbs such as know, realize,
regret, be, aware, odd, glad
O Example:
 She didn‟t realize he was ill (>> He was ill)
 We regret telling them
(>> We told them)
 It isn‟t odd that he left early (>> He left early)

8. O assumption that, in using one word, the speaker can
act as if another meaning (word) will be understood.
O Example:
 Andrew stopped smoking. (>>He used to smoke)
 You are late again. (>> You were late before)
O the use of the expressions "stop" and "again" are
taken to presuppose unstated concept
O assumption associated with the use of certain words and
phrases: the wh-form (e.g. when and where)
O Example:
 When did she leave? ( >> she left)
 Where did you buy the book? (>> you bought the
book)

9. O assumption that something is not true.
O Example:
 I dreamed that I was rich. (>> I am not rich)
 We imagined that we were in London. (>> We are
not in London)
 He pretends to be ill. (>> He isn‟t ill)
O assumption that what is presupposed is not only
untrue, but is the opposite of what is true, or contrary
to facts.
O Example:
 If you were my daughter, I would not allow you to
do this. ( >> you are not my daughter)

10. O projection problem: occurs when a simple sentence
becomes part of a more complex sentence
O the meaning of some presupposition (as a part)
doesn‟t survive to become the meaning of a more
complex sentence (as a whole).
O Example:
A: “It‟s so sad. George regrets getting Mary fired.“
B : “But he didn‟t get her fired. We know that now.”

11. a. George regrets getting Mary fired (=p)
b. George got Mary fired
(=q)
p >> q
O The speaker utters a, presupposes b
d. He didn‟t get her fired
(=r)
e. George didn‟t get Mary fired
(= NOT q)
r >> NOT q
O The speaker utters d, presupposes e, the opposite of
b
g. George regrets getting Mary fired,
but he didn‟t get her fired
(=p & r)
p & r >> NOT q
O The speaker, after combining r&p, the presupposition
q is not true

12. O This shows that entailments (necessary
consequences of what is said) are simply more
powerful than presuppositions (earlier assumptions).
O the power of entailment can also be used to cancel
existential presuppositions.
O Example:
The King of Brazil visited us.
 (The king of Brazil does not exist).

13. O entailment is not a pragmatic concept (i.e. having to
do with the speaker meaning)
O but it is considered a purely logical concept,
symbolized by ǁ ̵
O Example: Rover chased three squirrels
(= p)
a. Something chased three squirrels
(= q)
Back
ground b. Rover did something to three squirrels (= r)
(= s)
Entail- c. Rover ate three of something
d. Something happened
(= t)
ment
O p ǁ̵ q
 logical consequence

14. O Foreground entailment: speaker indicate how
entailments are to be ordered typically by stress for
interpreting intended meaning
Foreground entailment
O Example:
a. Rover chased THREE squirrels.
b. ROVER chased three squirrels.
O cleft construction: speaker can communicate what
he/she believes the listener may already be thinking
O Example:
It wasn‟t me who took your money
 to attribute the foreground entailment to the
listener(s) without actually stating it (as a possible
accusation).

15. Exercise
The following sentences make certain presuppositions.
What are they? (The first one has been done for you!) Identify
the types of presupposition
1. The police ordered the minors to stop drinking.
Type: Lexical presupposition
Presupposition: The minors were drinking.
2. Please take me out to the ball game again.
3. Valerie regretted not receiving a new T-bird for Labor Day.
4. That her pet turtle ran away made Emily very sad.
5. The administration forgot that the professors support the
students.
6. It is strange that the United States invaded Cambodia in
1970.
7. Isn't it strange that the United States invaded Cambodia in
1970?
8. Disa wants more popcorn.
9. Why don't pigs have wings?