Plurality by example: Difference between revisions
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This page attempts to explore an 'easy to explain by default' interpretation of the various gadri and how they affect propositional distributivity in the case of plurality and masses. In other words, what are the different way we can make distributive and non-distributive assertions on different kinds of referents? For our case, we'll start by giving some simple definitions of the gadri and then attempt to use them to determine whether they satisfy the following desired characteristics: | |||
# Easy to explain | |||
# Do what you want most of the time | |||
# Provide a straightforward way to do non-default assertions | |||
# Work with singletons and masses | |||
# Work with individual and plural descriptions | |||
To restrain the scope of this page, we can consider the difference between {lo} and {le} (and their various counter-parts) as irrelevant and orthogonal to the discussion. | |||
== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
=== Brief definitions of gadri === | === Brief definitions of gadri === | ||
* lo/le: | * lo/le: Identifies a referent to be predicated distributively. Whatever the description refers to, we assert propositions on the things that make it up. | ||
* loi/lei: | * loi/lei: Identifies a referent to be predicated non-distributively. Whatever the description refers to, we assert propositions on that as a cohesive unified object. | ||
* lo'i/le'i: not used | * lo'i/le'i: not used | ||
=== Other necessary cmavo === | === Other necessary cmavo === | ||
* lu'o: | * lu'o: Identifies a referent to be predicated non-distributively. The referent is the cohesive constituency made up by the provided sumti. | ||
* lu'a: | * lu'a: Identifies a referent to be predicated distributively. The referents are any constituents making up the provided sumti. | ||
== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
=== The students surround the school. === | === The students surround the school. === | ||
=== The waters are cold. === | === The waters are cold. === | ||
Revision as of 04:59, 10 September 2014
This page attempts to explore an 'easy to explain by default' interpretation of the various gadri and how they affect propositional distributivity in the case of plurality and masses. In other words, what are the different way we can make distributive and non-distributive assertions on different kinds of referents? For our case, we'll start by giving some simple definitions of the gadri and then attempt to use them to determine whether they satisfy the following desired characteristics:
- Easy to explain
- Do what you want most of the time
- Provide a straightforward way to do non-default assertions
- Work with singletons and masses
- Work with individual and plural descriptions
To restrain the scope of this page, we can consider the difference between {lo} and {le} (and their various counter-parts) as irrelevant and orthogonal to the discussion.
Introduction
Brief definitions of gadri
- lo/le: Identifies a referent to be predicated distributively. Whatever the description refers to, we assert propositions on the things that make it up.
- loi/lei: Identifies a referent to be predicated non-distributively. Whatever the description refers to, we assert propositions on that as a cohesive unified object.
- lo'i/le'i: not used
Other necessary cmavo
- lu'o: Identifies a referent to be predicated non-distributively. The referent is the cohesive constituency made up by the provided sumti.
- lu'a: Identifies a referent to be predicated distributively. The referents are any constituents making up the provided sumti.