Re: A question of semantics

Estel Telcontar scripsit:

> The problem is, I can't say "I saw Jenny", because it wasn't actually
> her.
Lojban clearly distinguishes these cases:  by default, such references are
+specific (meaning that they refer to whatever you have in mind, not to
what is objectively so).

> If I say "I saw someone who looked like Jenny", that makes it sound
> like I knew all along that it wasn't Jenny, but that I saw someone and
> observed that they bore a resemblance to Jenny.
Wrap your head about "Elaine wants to marry a Norwegian".  Does that mean
she wants to marry someone in particular, who is specified as being a
Norwegian, or merely that when she marries, she desires that it be with
some Norwegian or other?

--
John Cowan    http://www.ccil.org/~cowan   <jcowan@...>
    "Any legal document draws most of its meaning from context.  A telegram
    that says 'SELL HUNDRED THOUSAND SHARES IBM SHORT' (only 190 bits in
    5-bit Baudot code plus appropriate headers) is as good a legal document
    as any, even sans digital signature." --me

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