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

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

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

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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






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