Presupposition Module 2 2008-9 Lesson 7

1. Presupposition Module 2 2008-9 Lesson 7

2. What is presupposition? Speakers/writers design their messages using assumptions about what listeners already know. What is presupposed in this text? - The baby cried - The mummy picked it up

3. Why does presupposition exist? Because it enables us to communicate succinctly. It is much easier to say … John doesn’t write any more …than it is to say ….. A person we both know and agree that his name is John, and who knows how to write, and who is able to write poetry, wrote poetry in some past time, and know he does not write poetry

4. When did you stop smoking? The speaker presupposes two things: - You used to smoke - You have stopped smoking What is presupposed in these sentences? - John doesn’t write poems anymore - Would you like another beer?

5. Have you stopped beating your wife? Lawyers often use questions like this to embarrass a defendant. Why is it a difficult question to answer?

6. Presupposition in Alice in Wonderland “Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “It’s very easy to take more than nothing.”

7. Markers of given and new information in text and speech In speech and writing we signal to the listener/reader the kind of information which we presume that they know or do not know - Indefinite expressions - Definite expressions

8. Indefinite expressions in text Indefinite expressions are used when individuals are not known to the reader - A man came down the road First mention of the man

9. Definite expressions in text Definite expressions are used when individuals are KNOWN to the reader. But how are they known? Queen Elizabeth asked the chaplain to arrange it world knowledge already mentioned in the text

10. The difference between definite and indefinite expressions in text Are definite or indefinite expressions used and why? 1. A salesman with a black beard came to see me last week 2. The salesman came back again yesterday 3. He came back again yesterday The definite expressions in 2. And 3. are used because the salesman has already been mentioned in 1.

11. Indefinite expressions in text - when and why ? - A dissident Spanish priest first mention - A man armed with a bayonet first mention - Investigating magistrates first mention

12. Definite expressions in text - when and why? - the Pope world knowledge (so already known) - he refers back to Pope (so already known) - the police inference from arrested (so already known) - he refers back to Fernandez (so already known) - the assault inference from attack (so already known)

13. Map game • Palm trees Indefinite Plural • A waterfall Indefinite Sing. • The palm trees definite Plural • The waterfall definite singular • Crocodiles indefinite plural • The crocodiles definite plural

14. Swamp indefinite • A swamp indefinite • A palm beach indefinite

15. A river indefinite first mention • A bridge indefinite first mention • A big river indefinite first mention • The river … the bridge definite • a bridge

16. Definite and indefinite expressions in speech Speakers tend to use definite expressions when they believe information is mutually shared Speakers tend to use indefinite expressions when they believe information is not mutually shared