18 Questions
Why are binary adjectives not gradable from a logical perspective?
Because they are inherently absolute
What is the primary reason for arguments about descriptive adjectives?
Lack of a clear standard
What is an example of a double entailment relation?
Rover is a collie implies Rover is a dog
What is a characteristic of antonymous word pairs?
One member of the pair is formed by adding a prefix to the other
What is a characteristic of evaluative adjectives?
They are often subjective
What can be a consequence of linguistic ambiguity?
Miscommunication and misunderstanding
What is illustrated by the examples in sentences 39a-d?
The concept of hyponymy.
What is the effect of accenting the word 'some' in the sentence 'I've done some of the assignments'?
It adds paradigmatic focus and excludes other quantifiers like 'all'.
What can be concluded when a superordinate term is in the subject of a sentence?
The truth of a similar proposition containing any hyponym.
What is the result of having a superordinate term in the object of a sentence?
No conclusion can be drawn about the hyponym.
What is illustrated by the special case of sentence 39a?
The fact that all dogs chase cats means Rover chases cats.
What can be concluded about the sentence 'All dogs chase Tabby'?
It entails the truth of the sentence 'All dogs chase some cat'.
What is the primary difference between 'thin' and 'slender' in terms of their connotation?
One is more neutral, while the other is flattering.
What is the term for the difference in the values that people give to certain words, such as 'cheap' and 'inexpensive'?
Pragmatic value
What is the difference between the verbs 'hide' and 'conceal' in terms of their valency?
One requires two arguments, while the other can have one or two arguments.
What is the term for the relationship between words like 'lift' and 'elevator', which are interchangeable but have different pragmatic values?
Synonymy
What is the term for the ability of a verb to take different numbers of arguments, such as 'hide' taking one or two arguments?
Valency
What is the primary difference between the adjectives 'frugal' and 'stingy' in terms of their connotation?
One is more neutral, while the other is more pejorative.
Test your knowledge of dialectical variations in English vocabulary, including synonym pairs like 'lift' and 'elevator', 'firefly' and 'lightning bug', and more. Learn about the pragmatic values behind these differences and how they relate to geographical location and upbringing. Identify the regional preferences for certain words and expand your linguistic horizons!
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