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Is this a denotative statement?

  • 06-06-2013 02:44PM
    #1
    IrishMark
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 65 ✭✭


    So, I thought this might belong in a language/computer section, but c'est la vie...

    Lyotard (taking influence from Wittgenstein) says 'the university is sick' is an example of a denotative statement because it denotes something about the university, namely that it is sick. My question is: if person x is asked did they see person y and they reply 'no', is that negative answer a denotative statement; 'I did not see person y' is a denotative statement. True or False?

    Thanks,
    Mark


Comments

  • #2
    sceptre
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,607 ✭✭✭✭sceptre


    Moved from Literature to English. I reckon you'll get a better answer over there and it's better placed.

    My understanding is that denotation (as distinct from connotation) is that the statement describes something (or someone) as accurately as possible, the important bit being that it avoids connotation. Someone else probably has a far better definition though. If I'm correct, it's not a denotative statement as it doesn't describe (effectively, denote) anything.

    I wouldn't build a house on what I've just said but I think I'm correct. Happy to be corrected, yadda yadda.


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