[lit-ideas] Re: Griceian Numbers
- From: "Richard Henninge" <RichardHenninge@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2012 03:31:30 +0200
"The meaning of simple numeral expressions like 'two', 'three', 'twenty-
seven' etc. has turned out to be one of the most problematic issues
within" Griceianism.
"Part of the problem is that
there seem to be several candidates for 'the' meaning of an English
cardinal."
"Numerals can be used in many ways, three of which have
been the focus of discussion in the pragmatic literature of the past
thirty to thirty five years."
'Two' as specifying exact cardinality, 'two' as
specifying a lower bound and 'two' as specifying an upper bound.
"Bultinck's book on 'Grice's numerous meanings' is an attempt at tackling
the
issue by comparing the most influential theoretical trend of the past
three decades, the so-called Griceian programme, with the results
of an extensive corpus study of numerals.
The book contains a
detailed discussion of the legacy of the Oxford philosopher, born near
Birmingham, H. P. Grice and his theory of
conversation, with particular focus on the repercussions for the
analysis of English cardinals.
It is argued that the 'conventional'
meaning of a numeral needs to be established by means of a corpus
analysis.
As Bultinck subsequently aims to show, such an analysis
undermines the neo-Gricean assumption that numerals present a
lower bound in their coded meaning.
--------------------
`Is that the way YOU manage?' Alice asked.
The Latter shook his head mournfully. `Not I!' he replied. `We quarrelled
last month--just before SHE went mad, you know--'(pointing with his
Griessbrei spoon at the Zany Mother Friendly Meant,) `--it was at the great
lecture given by Bultinek on Scalar Implicatures and Their Use in the
Edjukayshun of Childers, and I was invited to play the organ and to
Griceanically sing
"Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!"
You know the song, perhaps?'
`I've heard something like it,' said Alice.
`It goes on, you know,' the Latter continued, `in this way:--
"Up above the world it flies,
Like a Brie with name of Grice.
Twinkle, twinkle--"'
Here the Lit-Rat shook itself, and began singing in its sleep `Twinkle,
twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on so long that they had to pinch it
to make it stop.
-----------------------
Excerpted from "A Grice Brie Party."
Richard Henninge
University of Mainz
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