Assertion

by M. Jary

Overview

Assertion is a term frequently used in linguistics and philosophy but rarely defined. This in-depth study surveys and synthesizes a range of philosophical, linguistic and psychological literature on the topic, and then presents a detailed account of the cognitive processes involved in the interpretation of assertions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780230573994
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan UK
Publication date:	07/30/2010
Series:	Palgrave Studies in Pragmatics, Language and Cognition
Edition description:	2010
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

MARK JARY teaches Linguistics, Translation and Philosophy of Language at Roehampton University, London, UK. His previous publications include papers in Linguistics and Philosophy, Lingua and The Journal of Pragmatics.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables ix

Acknowledgements x

1 Introduction 1

2 Assertion in Speech-act Theory 6

2.1 Introduction 6

2.2 Two types of speech-act theorist 6

2.3 Speech-act fundamentalists and assertion 16

2.4 Conclusion 30

3 Assertion, Belief and Knowledge 32

3.1 Introduction 32

3.2 Assertion and belief: what is the correct order of explanation? 33

3.3 Assertion and belief attribution 38

3.4 Assertion and knowledge 46

3.5 Conclusion 50

4 A Sign of Assertion 52

4.1 Introduction 52

4.2 Frege's assertion sign 53

4.3 Assertion: illocution and inference 56

4.4 A natural-language assertion sign? 59

4.5 Conclusion 82

5 Assertion and Common Ground 84

5.1 Introduction 84

5.2 Sense, force and representation in Stalnaker's account 85

5.3 Assertion and presupposition 92

5.4 Comparison with Relevance Theory 99

5.5 Conclusion 103

6 Assertion and Mood 105

6.1 Introduction 105

6.2 Mood in formal semantics 105

6.3 Speech-act approaches to mood 120

6.4 Conclusion 128

7 Assertion and Main Point 129

7.1 Introduction 129

7.2 Non-asserted main point 130

7.3 Assertion, presupposition and conventional implicature 134

7.4 Ordered entailments 138

7.5 Conclusion 148

8 Assertion and Relevance 150

8.1 Introduction 150

8.2 Relevance in a context vs. relevance to an individual 151

8.3 Context types 152

8.4 Mood and force 155

8.5 Assertion and main point 173

8.6 Relevance maximising vs. relevance optimising 177

8.7 Comparison with other frameworks 192

8.8 Conclusion 194

9 Conclusion 196

Notes 199

References 211

Index 219

Editorial Reviews

'Jary's synthesis of linguistic, cognitive scientific and philosophical insights about assertion, so necessary at this stage of inquiry, is simply masterful: just the right degree of comprehensiveness; meticulous and balanced exegesis; and extreme clarity. There can be no question that this book will now become the point of departure for future studies of assertion as a unified, multifaceted cognitive-social phenomenon.' Rob Stainton, University of Western Ontario, Canada

'[This] book is well organized and engaging. Jary writes clearly and passionately, and I can recommend the book to anyone with a serious interest in assertion, and not just because it is the first monograph on the topic.' - Peter Pagin, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

From the Publisher