Understanding Semantic Properties of Two-place Predicates
Explore the semantic properties of two-place predicates including symmetry, reflexivity, and transitivity. Learn about symmetric and asymmetric predicates, as well as reflexive and irreflexive predicates. Understand transitive, intransitive, and non-transitive predicates. Dive into examples and conclude the different types of two-place predicates.
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Presentation Transcript
The semantics of the sentence Chapter Ten
Properties of two-place Predicates There are three semantic properties of two-place predicates: 1. symmetry 2. reflexivity 3. transitivity
symmetry Predicates can be symmetric and asymmetric. Asymetric predicates are the opposite of the symmetric ones. Ex: John is married to Mary. X P y Mary is married to John. My car is different from your car. X P Your car is different from my car. (each of the pairs entail each other) Y
Asymmetric Predicates EX: John is taller than Mary. X P Mary is taller than John. Joseph is fatter than Jim X P Y Jim is fatter than Joseph. (the two sentences in each of these pairs contradict each other) Y
Predicates that are neither symmetric nor asymmetric Ex: John loves Mary X P Y Mary Loves John The Pope blessed all his devotes. He hates everyone in his family. (the two sentences in these pairs either entail nor contradict each other)
Reflexivity Predicates can be reflexive or irreflexive. Ex: She resembles herself. (reflexive) He is taller than himself. (irreflexive) He likes himself. (neither reflexive nor irreflexive) (the first and the second sentence are artificial. The first one is uninformative, giving no new information. The second one is impossible and odd)
Transitivity Predicates can be either transitive , intransitive , or nither. EX: Sally is in her study room and her study room is in that big building. Sally is in that building. That old man is the father of John and John is the father of Joseph. That old an is the father of Joseph. Alice hates Mary and Mary hates Susan . Alice hates Susan.
Conclusion Two place predicates can be : 1. symmetric, asymmetric , or nether. 2. reflexive, irrreflexive , or nether.. 3. transitive , intransitive or neither.
