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DEFINITIONS
CHAPTER 3
Language
Subject
- is who or what the sentence is about
Predicate
- tells about that subject
Example:
1. Informative
2. Directive
3. Expressive
3 Major Functions of Language (Copi and Cohen)
Informative
- Principal concern in reasoning
- We can distinguish between facts a sentence
formulates and facts about the speaker who
formulates them
Informative
a. The informative function affirms or denies
propositions, as in science or the statement of a fact.
(philosophy.lander.edu)
Directive
- It seeks to guide or to command. (Copi and
Cohen)
- This language is used for the purpose of causing
(or preventing) overt action by a human agent. It
does not always relate logically to the truth of our
beliefs. (http://www.philosophypages.com/)
Directive
a. The directive function is most commonly found in
commands and requests. (philosophy.lander.edu)
Expressive
- This language function intends only to vent some
feeling, or perhaps to evoke some feeling from
other people. (http://www.philosophypages.com/)
- It reports feelings or attitudes of the writer (or
speaker), or of the subject, or evokes feelings in the
reader (or listener).
Expressive
a. Poetry and literature are among the best examples, but
much of, perhaps most of, ordinary language discourse is
the expression of emotions, feelings or attitudes.
Ceremonial language
-This may combine expressive and other function. It
is also a ritual language use.
Example:
How do you do?
Other uses of Language
Performative Language
- These are words themselves serve, when spoken or
written to perform the function they announce.
- The language which performs the action it reports. For
example, "I do" in the marriage ceremony and the use of
performative verbs such as "accept," "apologize,"
"congratulate," and "promise." These words denote an
action which is performed by using the verb in the first
personnothing more need be done to accomplish the
action.
Example:
I apologize for my foolish remark.
Different forms of Language
1. Declarative
2. Exclamatory
3. Imperative
4. Interrogative
Different forms of Language
Declarative
- makes a statement and they are punctuated by a
period.
Examples:
I committed the felony out of an uncontrollable fear.
He is an excellent lawyer.
The Judge observed cold neutrality.
Different forms of Language
Exclamatory
- contains a strong emotion and end with an exclamation
mark.
Examples:
Its a great day!
I love you so much!
I hate you with all my heart and soul!
Different forms of Language
Imperative
- makes a command or request. They typically end with a
period, but sometimes end with an exclamation mark.
Examples:
Answer the question.
Proclaim your decision.
Shut up!
Different forms of Language
Interrogative
- asks a question and they end with a question mark.
Examples:
Why did you kill him?
What is your intention for concealing the evidence
from the crime scene?
Usual Function /
assertion / The room is cool. I had a nice time. I would like some coffee.
declarative
question / But isn't this room 222A? Isn't that great? Don't you want to help me?
interrogative
command / Read pages 1-10 for the test. Have a nice day. Shut the windows.
imperative /
exclamatory
Emotive Language, Neutral Language and Disputes
Euphemisms
-harsh realities are replaced by gentle words
- almost any state of affairs, no matter how
unfortunate, can be put in a positive or negative
light without changing the factual significance of
what is said.
The medical vocabulary dealing with human
reproduction and elimination is neutral and not
offensive, but the four-letter words that are vulgar
synonyms of those medical terms are shocking to many
because of the attitudes they evoke.
(2) If the discovery of the facts does not bring the parties to
agreement in attitude, then various methods of rhetoric and
persuasion can be tried.
Disputes and Ambiguity
Illustrations:
If Allan favors Paquiao, and Antonio for Algeiri, they are in
genuine disagreement, although they disagree mainly in
attitude.
Illustrations:
Mutuc vs. Comelec (and the like)
Caltex vs. Palomar (Lottery)
People vs. Mapa (Peace officer)
Apparently verbal but really genuine
- A misunderstanding about the use of terms may
be involved in such cases, but when that
misunderstanding has been cleared up there
remains a disagreement that goes beyond the
meanings of the words.
Illustration
Stipulative Definition
Lexical Definition
Precising Definition
Theoretical Definition
Persuasive Definition
Stipulative Definition
Extension
Intension
Extension
Definitions by Synonymous
example definitions
Ostensive definitions Operational
Quasi-definitions Definitions
Definitions by genus
and difference
Extensional Techniques
Definitions by example
Ostensive definition
Quasi-ostensive definition
1. Definitions by Example
Defining fruits
(1) Subjective
(2) Objective
(3) Conventional
1. Subjective Intension
Synonymous Definitions
Operational Definitions
Definitions by genus and difference
1. Synonymous Definition
Allowable
Permissible
2. Operational Definitions
Analytical Definition
In Latin, definition per genus et differentia
It is a technique which defines a word by finding out
the genus or the broader term of the word and then
pointing out the specific attribute that is different
from the other words belonging to the same genus.
Copi, Cohen, & McMahon, 2014 and Moore, 2009
2 Steps