Presupposition

Definition

Presupposition is an implicit assumption or background belief that is taken for granted in a conversation or statement, often influencing how information is interpreted. It plays a crucial role in communication, as speakers rely on shared knowledge with their listeners, shaping the context in which utterances are understood. Understanding presupposition helps unpack the layers of meaning in speech acts and reveals the unspoken elements of conversational implicature.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Presuppositions can be triggered by certain linguistic expressions, such as definite descriptions, factive verbs, or change of state verbs, which carry inherent assumptions.
2. Failure to satisfy a presupposition can lead to communication breakdowns or misunderstandings, as the listener may not share the same background knowledge.
3. Presuppositions can be categorized into different types, such as existential presuppositions (assuming existence), factive presuppositions (assuming truth), and counterfactual presuppositions (assuming an alternate reality).
4. The common ground between speakers is essential for understanding presuppositions; if one speaker assumes knowledge that the other does not have, it can create confusion.
5. Presupposition projection occurs when embedded clauses preserve their presuppositions even when they are part of larger sentences, affecting how meaning is derived.

Review Questions

• How does presupposition function in communication and what impact does it have on understanding speech acts?
  • Presupposition serves as an underlying assumption that both speakers and listeners rely on to make sense of a conversation. It shapes how speech acts are interpreted because these implicit beliefs guide what information is considered relevant or accepted. If a speaker makes an assertion that presupposes shared knowledge, it can facilitate smoother communication; however, if there is a mismatch in what each party presupposes, misunderstandings can arise.
• Discuss the different types of presuppositions and provide examples of each type in conversational contexts.
  • There are various types of presuppositions including existential presuppositions, which assume something exists (e.g., 'The king of France is bald' presupposes there is a king of France), factive presuppositions that assume the truth of information (e.g., 'I regret eating that cake' presupposes that I did eat it), and counterfactual presuppositions that consider hypothetical situations (e.g., 'If I had gone to the party, I would have seen him' presupposes I did not go to the party). Each type illustrates how unspoken assumptions influence understanding and discourse.
• Evaluate the significance of presupposition in conversational implicature and how it affects linguistic meaning.
  • Presupposition plays a significant role in conversational implicature by establishing what is taken for granted between interlocutors. When speakers rely on shared assumptions, they can convey deeper meanings without explicitly stating them. This relationship highlights how context and background knowledge shape interpretation; for instance, when one speaker says 'John stopped smoking,' it presupposes that John used to smoke. Understanding these layers allows for more nuanced communication and reveals how much of our conversations depend on implicit agreements about what is known or assumed.

Related terms

Conversational Implicature: A type of meaning that arises from the context of a conversation rather than from the literal meanings of the words used, often relying on shared assumptions.

Speech Act: An utterance that performs an action, such as making a promise or giving an order, where the meaning goes beyond just the words spoken.

Entailment:

A logical relationship where one statement necessarily follows from another, differing from presupposition in that entailments are strictly about truth conditions.