Semantics (2018/2019)

Propositions (declarative, interrogative, and imperative)

Dr Aseel Zibin

 We discussed earlier that a proposition is a sentence meaning.

 Since sentences are abstract, then their meaning (proposition) is even more abstract.
 We discussed that only declarative sentences express a proposition.
 Propositions can be true or false (they have truth value) depending on whether they
match reality.
 This means that only declarative sentences can have propositions because they make a
statement that can be true or false.
 But interrogative and imperative sentences are sometimes viewed as sharing the
proposition of a corresponding declarative sentence, while either questioning its truth
or expressing the proposition as a desirable state of affairs.
 An example is:

I am going to Sam’s party.

 Proposition of declarative sentence: THE SPEAKER AT THE TIME OF SPEAKING

SAID THAT HE/SHE IS GOING TO SAM’S PARTY.

Do you want to go to Sam’s party?

 Proposition of interrogative sentence: SOMEONE IS QUESTIONING THE

DECLARATIVE PROPOSITION: GOING TO SAM’S PARTY.

Come to Sam’s party.

 Proposition of imperative sentence: SOMEONE IS SHOWING DESIRE FOR THE

DECLARATIVE PROPOSITION: GOING TO SAM’S PARTY.