Re: A question of semantics

Estel Telcontar wrote:
> I'm not sure exactly what's wrong with it either, though I'm trying to
> figure it out.  It may be a case where -  how do I explain this? - the
> statement is technically correct because it includes what I want to
> express, but unsatisfyingly inaccurate because its centre or focus is
> not on what I want to express.  Almost as if the statement I make draws
> a circle around a some semantic territory, and my meaning is inside the
> correct semantic territory, but not near the middle, and I feel that
> when  my statement is received, the listener/reader will automatically
> understand something near the middle of the circle of semantic
> territory.  Whether or not this is such a case, I know I've found cases
> like that.
Well, the way to solve that is to turn 'I think' from pronoun+verb into
fixed phrase with a particular meaning, isn't it now? :) Go spread a
reanalysis :)

> I understand your point, and I can't find any flaws in your argument,
> but somehow it doesn't satisfy me.  Perhaps it's an issue with
> different kinds of thinking -
> 1. thinking on an uncontrolled, not necessarily rational, intuitive
> level, which does think I saw Jenny.
> and
> 2. thinking on a rational, controlled, I'd almost say conscious, level,
> on which for no instant do I think I saw Jenny.
>
> And perhaps I shy away from saying "I think/thought I saw Jenny"
> because I expect it to be understood with "think 2" not "think 1".
>
> Does that make any sense?
Yeah, I think it does. I can understand your problem, but at least in
this case I wouldn't care about the difference for myself :) (IIRC, Old
English had two words, þenc and þinc, for these two kinds of thinking,
but I'm probably wrong (they merged because /E/>/I/ before [N], hence
ink, English).)

--
Tristan                  <kesuari@...>

C: I'm sick of hearing about personal responsibility!
    I've already dóne my part to make the world a
    better place to live.
H: Really?
C: Sure! I was bórn!
H: Oh yes, I forgot to thank you.
C: Join the club!
                           ---Calvin and Hobbs