Abstract of "Contrast and Implication in Natural Language"
Abstract of "Contrast and Implication in Natural Language"
Yoad Winter
and Mori Rimon
In Journal of Semantics 11 (1994): 365-406
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In this paper we introduce a theoretical framework and a logical application
for analyzing the semantics and pragmatics of contrastive conjunctions in
natural language. It is shown how expressions like "although", "nevertheless",
"yet" and "but" are semantically definable as connectives using an operator for
implication in natural language, and how similar pragmatic principles affect
the behaviour of both contrastive conjunctions and indicative conditionals.
Following previous proposals, conditions on contrast in a conjunction are
analyzed as presuppositions of the conjunction. Further linguistic evidence
leads to a distinction between restrictive and non-restrictive connectives
of contrast, and consequently between direct and indirect contrast, which
are given a precise definition.
A general interface for a theory of contrast using possible world semantics for
implication is then presented. As a test case, we show how this interface is
applicable to the semantics for conditionals that was introduced by Veltman
in his article "Data Semantics and the Pragmatics of Indicative Conditionals"
(1986). This application yields an extension of Veltman's Data Logic, called
Contrastive Data Logic. Once appropriate modifications are added to Veltman's
pragmatic considerations, we show that contrastive data logic provides an
adequate tool for the analysis of substantial linguistic data concerning
contrast and implication in natural language.
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