bài giảng Semantics phần AN ANALYTIC, A SYNTHETIC, A CONTRADICTION, A NECESSARY CONDITION, A STEREOTYPE

Saigon University (SGU)
FOREIGN LANGUAGE DEPARTMENTS

SEMANTICS
SUBJECTS: AN ANALYTIC, A SYNTHETIC, A CONTRADICTION,
A NECESSARY CONDITION, A STEREOTYPE
TEACHER DIRECTORY

GROUP 2:


Problem statement
Cats are animals. The meaning of cat includes that of animal.

The kind of meaning we are talking about here is obviously the kind associated with words and sentences by the language
system, and not the speaker meaning (see Unit 1) specifically associated with utterances made by speakers on particular

we

occasions. This kind of meaning we call sense.

three

will concentrate on
important

sense

properties of sentences, the
properties of being analytic,
of being synthetic, and of

The sense of an expression is its indispensable hard
core of meaning (Hurford, JR & Heasley, B. 1983)

being contradictory.
The definition deliberately excludes any influence of
context or situation of utterance on the senses of
expressions


CONTENT

1

2

3

4

5

AN ANALYTIC

A SYNTHETIC

A CONTRADICTION

A NECESSARY CONDITION

A STEREOTYPE
3


1: AN ANALYTIC

Definition: An analytic sentence is one that is necessarily TRUE, as a result of the senses of the words in it (Hurford and
Heasley, 1983:91).

It means that those belong to analytic sentences are absolute true sentences.
An analytic sentence, therefore, reflects a tacit (unspoken) agreement by speakers of the language about the senses of the
words in it.


1. AN ANALYTIC
EXAMPLE:
Analytic: All elephants are animals
The Truth of the sentence follows from the senses of elephant and animal

Take

a

look

at

Lions are animals

the

examples

below.

Make

Elephants

Google

Pigeons are birds Make

view

image

button

visible

again


• Then, none will hesitate that lions are animals. It is because lions are lived things which can move from one spot to another spot
and produce roar and growl sound. Then it is deliberately clear that lions are animals.  

• The same explanation also can explain why pigeon are birds.
1. Everyone has the same perception or concept about birds.
2. Bird is a creature with feathers, and wings, and usually able to fly.

3. Many agree that pigeon’s body is covered by feathers, and it also has two wings to help it flies from one place to another place.
.Thus, pigeon’s creature meets a requirement as a bird.


1. AN ANALYTIC
Practice

1: Label the following sentence either T for true, F for false, or D for don’t know, as appropriate.

(a) Cats are animals
(b) Bachelors are unmarried
(c) Cats never live more than 20 year
(d) Bachelors cannot form lasting relationships
(e) Cats are not vegetables
(f) Bachelors are male
(g) No cat likes to bathe
(h) Bachelors are lonely

(Kempson, 1977: 26)

Sentences (a), (b), (e), (f) are analytic, sentences (c), (d), (g), (h) are ???.
Sentences

(c), (d) Actually we, the authors, don’t know the answers for these sentences,
(g), (h) We don’t know the answers for these, either

?


2. A Synthetic

Synthetic sentence is one which is not analytic, but may be either true or false, depending on the way the world is (Hurford and Heasley,
1983:91).

EXAMPLE:

Nick is from England.

She is beautiful

There is nothing in the senses of Nick or England or from which makes this

Synthetic sentences can be sometimes true, sometimes false, depending on the

necessarily true or false.

circumstances (hoàn cảnh).


2. A Synthetic

• Practice
Here are some more sentences. Circle A for analytic, or S for synthetic, as appropriate. For some, you will have to imagine
relevant situations.
(1) John’s brother is nine years old

A/ S

(2) John’s nine-year-old brother is a boy

A/ S

(3) Sam’s wife is married

A/ S

(4) Sam’s wife is not German

A/ S

(5) My watch is slow

A/ S

(6) My watch is a device for telling the time

A/ S

Feedback (1) S (2) A (3) A (4) S (5) S (6) S


3. A CONTRADICTION
Definition: A CONTRADICTION is a sentence that is necessarily FALSE, as a result of the senses of the words in it. Thus a
contradiction is in a way the opposite of an analytic sentence.
Example:

This animal is a vegetable is a contradiction.

Jellyfish are plants

This must be false because of the senses of animal and vegetable.

 Giới (regnum)
 Ngành (phylum)
 Lớp (class)

Animalia
Cnidaria
Cubozoa


3. A CONTRADICTION
Data Analysis 1: Identify each of the following sentences as analytic, synthetic or contradictory. For some you will have to
imagine relevant situations.
1. That girl is her own mother's mother.

A/S/C

2. That boy is his own father's son.

A/S/C

3. Alice is Ken's sister.

A/S/C

4. Some typewriters are dusty.

A/S/C

5. If it breaks, it breaks.

A/S/C

6. John killed Bill, who remained alive for many years after.

A/S/C

Feedback (1) C (2) A (3) S (4) S (5) A (6) C


Summary
ANALYTIC

SYNTHETIC

CONTRADICTION

Definition

necessarily TRUE

but may be either true or false.

necessarily FALSE

Example

All elephants are animals

She is beautiful

This animal is a vegetable

Analytic sentences are always true

depending on the way the world is.

(necessarily so, by virtue of the
senses of the words in them)

result of the senses of the words in it

result of the senses of the words in it


Exercise:
Circle the following sentences A for analytic , S for synthetic or C for contradiction , as appropriate.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

John’s nine-year-old brother is a boy.

A/ S / C

John’s brother is nine years old.

A/ S / C

Cats are not vegetables.

A/ S / C

No cats like to bathe.

A/ S / C

Cats never live more than 20 years.

A/ S / C

My watch is slow.

A/ S / C

My watch is a device for telling the time.

A/ S / C

That girl is her own mother’s mother.

A/ S / C

That boy is his own father’s son.
Alice is Ken’s sister.

A/ S / C
A/S/C

11. Some typewriters are dusty.
12.
13.

A/S /C

If it breaks, it breaks.
John killed Bill, who remained alive for many years after.

A/S/C
A/S/C

14. Bachelors cannot form lasting relationships.
15. Bachelors are lonely.

A/ S / C
A/ S / C

1. A; 2. S; 3. A; 4. S; 5. S; 6. S; 7. A; 8. C; 9. A; 10. S; 11. S; 12. A; 13. C; 14. S; 15. S


4. A STEREOTYPE
Definition: The STEREOTYPE of predicate is a list of the TYPICAL characteristics or features of thing to which the predicate may

be applied.
Example
The stereotype of cat would be something like:
Quadruped, domesticated, either black, or while, or grey, or tortoise – shell, or marmalade in colour, or some combination of these
colours, adult specimens about 50 cm long from nose to tip of tail, furry, with sharp retractable claws, etc


4. A STEREOTYPE
Practice
1) Suggest four characteristics which should be include in the stereotype of the the predicate elephant:
A trunk, two tusks, two big ears, adult specimens weighing several tons
(2) Give two characteristics which should be included in the stereotype of mother:
Take care of her young, protect her young
(3) Give four characteristics which should be included in the stereotype of building:
Containing upward of three or four rooms, built of a durable material, such as concrete, wood, stone, with a roof, doors, and
windows, used regularly by human being…


Reference

 Hurford, JR & Heasley, B. 1983. Semantics: A coursebook. London: Cambridge University Press.