This volume explores the nature and scope of ellipsis in natural language, focusing on two main questions: the characteristics of ellipsis and its linguistic/philosophical implications, particularly concerning nonsentential speech. It discusses whether nonsentential speech qualifies as ellipsis and the resulting implications.
Subsentences, Ellipsis, and the Philosophy of Language
The book explores the philosophical assertion that sentences hold primacy over words in the realm of language. It argues that sentences encapsulate our beliefs and assertions, serving as the foundation for semantic evidence and inferential relationships. The text posits that only sentences possess intrinsic meaning, challenging traditional views on the role of words in communication and understanding.