Q-based narrowing

Q-based narrowing

In semantics, Q-based narrowing is narrowing (a reduction in a word's range of meanings) that is caused by Grice's Maxim of Quantity ("see" Gricean maxims). Q-based narrowing occurs when a word "A" is a hypernym of a word "B" — that is, when every instance of "B" is an example of "A". It is then common for the use of "A" to imply "not B". For example, consider the words "finger" and "thumb". A thumb is a kind of finger (hence the phrase "ten fingers"), but the term "finger" is not ordinarily applied to it: someone who has hurt their thumb might technically be correct in saying "I hurt my finger", but it would be misleading; the ordinary thing to say is "I hurt my thumb."

The term "Q-based narrowing" is due to Yale linguist Laurence Horn.

External links

* [http://literalminded.wordpress.com/2004/07/29/the-chicken-says-cock-a-doodle-doo/ Literal-Minded — The Chicken Says “Cock-a-Doodle-Doo!”]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно решить контрольную?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Standards-based education reform — Education reform in the United States since the 1980s has been largely driven by the setting of academic standards for what students should know and be able to do. These standards can then be used to guide all other system components. The SBE… …   Wikipedia

  • Competence-based management — Competence based Strategic Management is a relatively new way of thinking about how organizations gain high performance for a significant period of time. Established as a theory in the early 1990s, competence based strategic management theory… …   Wikipedia

  • Atherosclerosis — For the journal, see Atherosclerosis (journal). Atherosclerosis Classification and external resources The progression of atherosclerosis (size exaggerated; see text) ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

  • EDUCATION — Pre State 1880–1914. Education in the small yishuv, which numbered about 25,000 in 1880, largely resembled the traditional types prevailing in Jewish communities elsewhere. The Jews of East European origin maintained the traditional ḥeder, talmud …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Curry (programming language) — This article is about the programming language Curry. For the computer science technique, see Currying. Curry Paradigm(s) functional, logic, non strict, modular Designed by Michael Hanus, et al. Typing discipline static, strong, inferred …   Wikipedia

  • Health and Disease — ▪ 2009 Introduction Food and Drug Safety.       In 2008 the contamination of infant formula and related dairy products with melamine in China led to widespread health problems in children, including urinary problems and possible renal tube… …   Universalium

  • Rhinoplasty — For the album by Primus, see Rhinoplasty (album). Rhinoplasty Intervention Rhinoplasty: The lower lateral cartilage (greater alar cartilage) exposed for plastic modification via the left nostril …   Wikipedia

  • Atheroma — Classification and external resources Atherosclerotic plaque from a carotid endarterectomy specimen. This shows the bifurcation of the common into the internal and …   Wikipedia

  • cardiovascular disease — Introduction       any of the diseases, whether congenital or acquired, of the heart and blood vessels (blood vessel). Among the most important are atherosclerosis, rheumatic heart disease, and vascular inflammation. Cardiovascular diseases are a …   Universalium

  • Stroke — For other uses, see Stroke (disambiguation). Stroke Classification and external resources CT scan slice of the brain showing a right hemispheric ischemic stroke (left side of image). ICD 10 …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”