Week 11 Flashcards
(38 cards)
modals are _____. instead of operating on two sets defined by properties, they operate on sets of _____ _____
“quantifiers”, possible worlds
modals as quantifiers
• the meaning of a ___ corresponds to what the ___ does with the two sets
• the meaning of a ___ is defined with respect to the set of possible worlds the ___ narrowed down to
quantifier x2
modal x2
• two dimensions of possible worlds:
type, ordering
- must P ~ the proposition is true ….
- could P ~ the proposition is true …
in every possible world within the relevant set
in some world or another within the relevant set
What are the two types of conversational backgrounds? Explain them
epistemic :
• “statistical” rules
• i.e., how the world usually is
• “of or relating to knowledge or to the degree of its validation”
deontic:
• “issued” laws
• imposed rules we expect to be followed
• “of or relating to duty and obligation; expressing duty or obligation”
Maria must be in her office.
Give the epistemic and deontic conversational backgrounds for this sentence.
Epistemic:
• given that her door is open
• in all worlds compatible with the speaker’s knowledge, and in which things happen in a stereotypical fashion, Maria is in her office
Deontic:
• from 9 to 5, because she is a receptionist
• in all worlds in which Maria satisfies her actual-world job description, she is in her office
Question 1
Peter might be skiing. There’s a lot of snow out there.
The conversational background for might here is
A) epistemic
B) deontic
A
-no law for skiing
You may have another piece of cake but only a small one!
• The conversational background for may here is
• A: epistemic
• B: deontic
B
Now I may go to Uzbekistan.They finally gave me the visa.
• The conversational background for may here is
• A: epistemic
• B: deontic
B
What are the two types of modal force? Explain them:
- necessity: all worlds within the relevant set of possible worlds
- possibility: some world or another within the relevant set of possible worlds
She must be in her office
• Conversational background:
• Modal force:
epistemic or deontic
necessity
She may be in her office
• Conversational background:
• Modal force:
epistemic or deontic
possibility
- The modal force of “could” is
- A: deontic
- B: epistemic
- C: necessity
- D: possibility
D
What are the two dimensions of displacement?
- temporal dimension
* modal dimension
- in the absence of ______ ____ , we evaluate propositions with respect to the____ world
- modal displacement changes the world of____
modal displacement,
actual,
evaluation
modals order____ worlds
possible
What are the four aspectual classes?
states, activities, achievements, accomplishments
tests for states:
• hard to combine with topic times like “from
2 to 3” (John is smart from 2 to 3)
• their present tense can denote an event
that’s happening at the time of speech
• sound odd with English progressive (John is being tall)
Explain activities:
class of events that also don’t undergo change but they are not “time- less” in the same sense as states
• I am working right now
• I am running late
• leave me alone, I am swimming
Examples of what?
Activities
What are achievements?
• the change is more or less instantaneous
John broke the vase
Sylvie woke up
Marta fell on the skis
Examples of what?
achievements
What are accomplishments?
• the change develops over time
The tomato ripened Mary grew up Pipa ate the cake.
Example of what?
accomplishments
