UM5-FLSH- RABAT Prof.
BELGHITI
S6- SEMANTICS & PRAGMATICS
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH STUDIES
PRACTICE/ASSIGNMENT 7
1. Take three sentences, p, q, and r as follows:
p: The sun is shining. q: The day is warm.
Let’s make the working assumption that we can represent sentence r by the logical formula p ∧
r : The sun is shining and the day is warm.
q. Use the truth table for ∧ given in 4.23 in this chapter to show the truth-value of r in the three
situations (S1–4) below:
2. In propositional logic is it assumed that p ∧ q and q ∧ p are logically equivalent, that is the
order of the elements is irrelevant. Discuss how the following examples show that this is not
true for the way that speakers use English and.
a. He woke up and saw on TV that he had won the lottery.
b. Combine the egg yolks with water in a bowl and whisk the mixture until foamy.
c. He made two false starts and was disqualified from the race.
d. Move and I’ll shoot!
3. (1) In a situation where Henry died and Terry resigned are both true, is (Either) Henry died
or Terry resigned true or false?
(2) Where Henry died is true, but Terry resigned is false, is (Either) Henry died or Terry
resigned true or false?
(3) Where Henry died is false, but Terry resigned is true, is (Either) Henry died or Terry
resigned true or false?
(4) Where Henry died and Terry resigned are both false, is (Either) Henry died or Terry
resigned true or false?
(5) Using your answers to(1)–(4)above as a basis,fill in the values( T or F, as appropriate)
in the right-hand column of the table below.
4. To begin with, assume a general rule of disjunction reduction, by which any phrasal or clausal
disjunction is derived from the disjunction of full sentences, that is, assume that a sentence like
You can say yes or no is equivalent to you can say yes or you can say no. For each of the sentences
below, decide whether the use of or corresponds to inclusive (∨) or exclusive (∨) disjunction.
Discuss your reasoning. Do any of these sentences have meanings that you feel are not captured
by assuming disjunction reduction; or by the truth table characterization of the
UM5-FLSH- RABAT Prof. BELGHITI
S6- SEMANTICS & PRAGMATICS
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH STUDIES
two
logic connectors in 4.24 and 4.26 earlier?
a. We spend the afternoons swimming or sunbathing.
b. They can resuscitate him or allow him to die.
c. If the site is in a particularly sensitive area, or there are safety considerations, we can refuse
planning permission.
d. You can take this bus or wait till the next one.
e. Beffni is a man’s name or a woman’s name.
f. The base camp is five or six days’ walk from here.
g. He doesn’t smoke or drink.
h. She suffers from agoraphobia, or fear of open places.
i. Stop or I’ll shoot!
5. Decide which of the following sentences are analytically true. Discuss the reasons for your
decision.
a. If it rains, we’ll get wet.
b. The train will either arrive or it won’t arrive.
c. Every doctor is a doctor.
d. If Albert killed a deer, then Albert killed an animal.
e. Madrid is the capital of Spain.
f. Every city has pollution problems.
6. Discuss the following sentences in terms of their truth.
My mother is a teacher
Paris is Paris
