PRESUPPOSITION

INTRODUCTION:

• Definition:
• Presuppositions are implications that are often felt to be in the background-to be
assumed by the speaker to be already known to the addressee.
• Example:
• 1. The king of France is bald
• 2.The King of France isn't bald
• 3. Is the king of France bald?
• Presuppositon is that there is a king of France.
CONSTANCY UNDER NEGATION

One of the tests used to check for the presuppositions underlying sentences involves
negating a sentence with a particular presupposition and considering whether the
presupposition remains true.

-The presupoosition of a statement will remain true even when the statement is negated.
• Example: John regrets having failed the exam
• John doesn't regret having failed the exam
• Presupposition: John failed the exam.