Introduction to SemanticsSpring 2015

Instructor: Adriana Todea

atodea@yahoo.comOffice hours: Monday 12 a.m. - 2 p.m., Alpha Centre room

9

What is modality? It is a propositional operator that signals that proposition p is evaluated not under one world coordinate w, but under a set of world coordinates W (called modal base), generated by the conversational background.ModalityIf p is a logical proposition, the reference (value) of p is its truth value (T/F) p is evaluated T or F depending on the world coordinate selected for its evaluation. proposition p is a function from set of worlds (W) to truth values

p: W={w0, w1, w2, w3, w4, w5, } {T,F} p(w0)=1;p(w1)=0;p(w2)=1;p(w3)=1;p(w4)=1;p(w5)=0 ...[[modalp]]W A conversational background is described by the sentences it contains.

Epistemic modalityCertainty (epistemic necessity) vs. possibilityEpistemic modality- concerns the resources available to the speaker to express judgement of fact versus possibility, of situation as it is versus situation as it may be. Madonna has received an anonymous letter in which she is mocked for her singing abilities. Madonna (to her friends): Pavarotti must have written this letter. Letter(x) Write(p,x)(x: )[[ ]]W,t2 =1 iff t1= time of utterancet2 < t1W={w1, w2, w3} pp

Epistemic modalityW={w1, w2, w3} the possible worlds in the modal base are projected by the sentences in the conversational background. w1= in the letter some details are mentioned that only Pavarotti could have known. Wondering about who might have written the letter, Madonna and her friends notice thatw2= Madonna knows that Pavarotti is a practical joker. w3= Madonna remembers that Pavarotti told her once jokingly that she has no voice. Madonna (the speaker) envisages all these alternative scenarios

Epistemic modalityMadonna (the speaker) envisages all these alternative scenarios (w1, w2, w3) which generate a modal base. If the logical proposition Pavarotti wrote this letter is true in all the possible worlds contemplated, then the speaker is certain that the logical proposition is true. certainty= if in all the worlds contemplated by the speaker in the conversational background the logical proposition p is true, then the speaker is certain that p is true.possibility= if in some of the worlds contemplated by the speaker in the conversational background the logical proposition p is true,, but in others false, then the speaker considers it possible that p is true.

(x: )[[ ]]W,t2 =1

iff Epistemic modalityMadonna has received an anonymous letter in which she is mocked for her singing abilities. Madonna (to her friends): Pavarotti may/ might have written this letter. t1= time of utterancet2 < t1W={w1, w2, w4} Letter(x) Write(p,x)w1= in the letter some details are mentioned that only Pavarotti could have known. w2= Madonna knows that Pavarotti is a practical joker. w4= The letter was sent from New York while Pavarotti was touring in Japan.

Madonna (the speaker) envisages all these alternative scenarios (w1, w2, w4) which generates a modal base. If the logical proposition Pavarotti wrote this letter is true in most, but not in all, of the possible worlds contemplated, then the speaker considers it likely that the logical proposition is true. Epistemic modality

(x: )[[ ]]W,t2 =1

iff Epistemic modalityMadonna has received an anonymous letter in which is is mocked for her singing abilities. Madonna (to her friends): Pavarotti could have written this letter. t1= time of utterancet2 < t1W={w1, w4, w5} Letter(x) Write(p,x)w1= in the letter some details are mentioned that only Pavarotti could have known. w4= the letter was sent from New York while Pavarotti was touring in Japan. w5= the letters handwriting does not resemble Pavarottis

Madonna (the speaker) envisages all these alternative scenarios (w1, w4, w5) which generate a modal base. If the logical proposition Pavarotti wrote this letter is false in most of the possible worlds contemplated, then the speaker considers it unlikely that the logical proposition is true. Epistemic modality

Deontic modality- the expression of obligation and permission, often in terms of morality and law, a projection from the world as it is to the world as it should be under a moral or legal code. The speaker is entertaining a set of idealized scenarios.Deontic modalityObligation (deontic necessity) vs. permissionOp= obligatory that pPp= permitted that pDeontic modality: conformity or non-conformity to an ideal standard.Obligation= true in all morally or legally ideal worlds contemplated.Permission= true in some morally or legally ideal worlds contemplated.

Deontic modalityAnn saw Marys boyfriend kissing another girl at a party. You(to a friend): Ann must tell Mary what she saw.=Op Ann tells Mary what she saw=pt1= time of utteranceW={w1, w2} [[Op ]]W,t1 =1

iff w1= Ann and Mary are friends and friends tell the truth. [[p]] w1, t1 =1; w2= It is not fair/ just for Marys boyfriend to get away with it . [[p]] w2, t1 =1; If in all ideal worlds from the modal base W contemplated p is true, thenthe speaker feels that it is obligatory that p be true.

Deontic modalityAnn saw Marys boyfriend kissing another girl at a party. You(to a friend): Ann may tell Mary what she saw.=Ppt1= time of utteranceW={w2, w3} [[Pp ]]W,t1 =1

iff w3= Marys relationship with her boyfriend is not Anns business [[p]] w3, t1 =0; w2= It is not fair/ just for Marys boyfriend to get away with it . [[p]] w2, t1 =1; If in some of the ideal worlds from the modal base W contemplated p is true, but in others false, then the speaker feels that it is permitted that p be true.

Circumstantial and ontological modalityability- temporary vs. permanent.Pavarotti (to Bono): Madonna cannot sing.Doctor (to Madonnas agent): Madonna cannot sing. Madonna has no talent= permanent lack of ability ontological modalityMadonna has a sore throat.= temporary lack of ability circumstantial modality

Practice: Indicate the types of modality that can characterize the following sentence. Give a clear, but brief, characterization of the background conditions.

1. Cinderella cannot cook.

2. Cinderella must be at the ball.

3. Cinderella cannot dance with the prince.