Re: A question of semantics

JS Bangs scripsit:

> Does Lojban encode a subjective/objective distinction? If so, is this
> distinction meant to be culturally neutral? Because not all cultures have
> a subjective/objective distinction, and even those that do can violently
> disagree as to what kinds of knowledge belong in which category.
I don't think so, unless I misunderstand what you mean by "subjective/
objective distinction".  The distinction is "specific/nonspecific".  If I
say "I see a [specific] cat", then you can't tell if this is true unless
you know what I'm referring to by "a [specific] cat".  If you know, then
you can tell if the sentence is true; whether the object really is a
cat is helpful, but not determinative.  Possible English translations
are "I see the cat" (specific and definite) and "I see a certain cat"
(specific and indefinite).

Whereas, "I see a [nonspecific] cat" is true iff what I am seeing is in
fact a cat.

--
There are three kinds of people in the world:   John Cowan
those who can count,                            http://www.reutershealth.com
and those who can't.                            jcowan@reutershealth.com

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