|
|
In article <9b9ef2l7bmussmc3r2nq654bf4mf1t5av8@xxxxxxx>,
Lester Zick <dontbother@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Wed, 30 Aug 2006 22:17:03 -0600, Virgil <virgil@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> >In article <gtpbf2l4ce435598ls17d6n1f2shq4a2aj@xxxxxxx>,
> > Lester Zick <dontbother@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> On Tue, 29 Aug 2006 22:32:52 -0600, Virgil <virgil@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >> wrote:
> >
> >
> >> >So Zick must be declaring that commands are to be either true or
> >> >false.
> >> >
> >> >Is "Go jump in the lake!" true or false, Zick?
> >>
> >> If you did it it would be true. If I did it it would be false.
> >
> >I have already issued the 'statement', now Zick say that its truth is
> >conditional on something that has not yet occurred.
>
> So is the statement true or false?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentence_%28linguistics%29#Classification_by
_purpose
Sentences can also be classified based on their purpose:
A declarative sentence or declaration, the most common type, commonly
makes a statement: I am going home.
An interrogative sentence or question is commonly used to request
information When are you going to work? but sometimes not; see
rhetorical question.
An exclamatory sentence or exclamation is generally a more emphatic form
of statement: What a wonderful day this is!
An imperative sentence or command is ordinarily used to make a demand or
request: Go do your homework.
Only declarative sentences can be declared true or false.
So the proper response to Zick's question is that the question assumes a
condition contrary to fact.
|
|