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Linglib.Studies.Heim1983

Heim (1983): Projection and Partial Context Change #

[Hei83] [Kar73]

The classic King and factive-verb examples, their PartialProp denotations, and the filtering predictions derived from partial context change potentials.

Main declarations #

World type for the king example.

Two possible states:

  • kingExists: There is a (unique) king in this world
  • noKing: There is no king in this world
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    @[instance_reducible]
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    def Heim1983.instReprKingWorld.repr :
    KingWorldStd.Format
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      @[instance_reducible]
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      "The king exists" — a presuppositionless assertion.

      This sentence has:

      • No presupposition (trivially true)
      • Assertion: the king exists
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      • One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.
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        "The king is bald" — presupposes king exists.

        This sentence has:

        • Presupposition: the king exists
        • Assertion: the king is bald (true when king exists)
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        • One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.
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          "If the king exists, the king is bald" — using filtering implication.

          Demonstrates presupposition filtering: the antecedent's assertion satisfies the consequent's presupposition.

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            "If the king exists, the king is bald" has no presupposition.

            This demonstrates presupposition filtering.

            World type for factive verb examples.

            Models whether it's raining and whether John believes it.

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              @[instance_reducible]
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              @[instance_reducible]
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              def Heim1983.instReprRainWorld.repr :
              RainWorldStd.Format
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              • One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.
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                "John knows that it's raining" — factive presupposition.

                Presupposes: it's raining Asserts: John believes it's raining

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                • One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.
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                  Filtering derived from partial CCPs #

                  [Hei83]'s actual machinery: sentences denote partial context change potentials (DynamicSemantics.CCP.Partial), and admittance does the projection work. The conditional's CCP is admitted by every context — the antecedent's update satisfies the consequent's king-presupposition — while the bare consequent's CCP is not admitted by the full context.

                  Every context admits ⟦if the king exists, the king is bald⟧: the antecedent's update filters the consequent's presupposition ([Hei83]'s conditional CCP).

                  The bare consequent ⟦the king is bald⟧ is NOT admitted by the full context: the noKing world fails the presupposition, which therefore projects.

                  [Kar73]'s filter for conjunction, relativized to the context itself as the set of background assumptions (his §9), is admittance of the sequenced update.