23.1110, Qs: Semantic/Pragmatic Analyses of ''Understand''

linguist at linguistlist.org linguist at linguistlist.org
Mon Mar 5 18:34:25 UTC 2012


LINGUIST List: Vol-23-1110. Mon Mar 05 2012. ISSN: 1069 - 4875.

Subject: 23.1110, Qs: Semantic/Pragmatic Analyses of ''Understand''

Moderators: Anthony Aristar, Eastern Michigan U <aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Aristar-Dry, Eastern Michigan U <hdry at linguistlist.org>

Reviews: Veronika Drake, U of Wisconsin-Madison
Monica Macaulay, U of Wisconsin-Madison
Rajiv Rao, U of Wisconsin-Madison
Joseph Salmons, U of Wisconsin-Madison
Anja Wanner, U of Wisconsin-Madison
       <reviews at linguistlist.org>

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org

The LINGUIST List is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the
discipline of linguistics with the infrastructure necessary to function in
the digital world. Donate to keep our services freely available!
https://linguistlist.org/donation/donate/donate1.cfm

Editor for this issue: Zac Smith <zac at linguistlist.org>
================================================================  

We'd like to remind readers that the responses to queries are usually
best posted to the individual asking the question. That individual is
then strongly encouraged to post a summary to the list. This policy was
instituted to help control the huge volume of mail on LINGUIST; so we
would appreciate your cooperating with it whenever it seems appropriate.

In addition to posting a summary, we'd like to remind people that it
is usually a good idea to personally thank those individuals who have
taken the trouble to respond to the query.

To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at
http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm.


Date: Mon, 05 Mar 2012 13:34:19
From: Eddy Gaytan [e-gaytan at sbcglobal.net]
Subject: Semantic/Pragmatic Analyses of ''Understand''

E-mail this message to a friend:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/emailmessage/verification.cfm?iss=23-1110.html&submissionid=4541951&topicid=8&msgnumber=1
 
Dear Linguists,
I am researching the cognitive verb UNDERSTAND in English and 
other languages such as French.

I am particularly interested in sentences in which understand takes the 
WH-word why, plus a clausal object complement like the following:

1. I understand why John V/Ved…
2. I do not understand why John V/Ved…

I am interested in semantic/pragmatic/discourse-analysis analyses 
which explain the information not expressed and pointed to by why, 
which seems to be crucial for sentences like 1 and 2 to make sense. 
Or, rather, the cogitator in 1 and 2 is only being truthful if his use of 
why points to a set of reasons which allow him to understand a 
proposition.

As I said before, I would appreciate any information regarding the verb 
understand of the WH-word why. 

Linguistic Field(s): Discourse Analysis
                     Pragmatics
                     Semantics
                     Syntax






------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Year the LINGUIST List hopes to raise $67,000. This money will go to help 
keep the List running by supporting all of our Student Editors for the coming
year.

See below for donation instructions, and don't forget to check out Fund 
Drive 2012 site!

http://linguistlist.org/fund-drive/2012/

There are many ways to donate to LINGUIST!

You can donate right now using our secure credit card form at  
https://linguistlist.org/donation/donate/donate1.cfm

Alternatively you can also pledge right now and pay later. To do so, go to: 
https://linguistlist.org/donation/pledge/pledge1.cfm

For all information on donating and pledging, including information on how to 
donate by check, money order, or wire transfer, please visit: 
http://linguistlist.org/donation/

The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as 
such can receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered 
501(c) Non Profit organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These 
donations can be offset against your federal and sometimes your state tax
return (U.S. tax payers only). For more information visit the IRS Web-Site,
or contact your financial advisor.

Many companies also offer a gift matching program, such that they will match 
any gift you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your 
contacting your human resources department and sending us a form that the 
EMU Foundation fills in and returns to your employer. This is generally a
simple administrative procedure that doubles the value of your gift to
LINGUIST, without costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment to check if
your company operates such a program.

Thank you very much for your support of LINGUIST!
 


----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-23-1110	
----------------------------------------------------------



More information about the LINGUIST mailing list