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The pragmatics of subordinating conjunctions: a second look*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2008

Ellin Kofsky Scholnick  and
Clara S. Wing
Ellin Kofsky Scholnick
Affiliation:
University of Maryland
Clara S. Wing
Affiliation:
University of Maryland
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Abstract

Some subordinating conjunctions reveal whether speakers believe the propositions the conjunctions connect and how speakers believe propositions are connected. Because and although express belief; if + indicative and unless uncertainty, and if + subjunctive, disbelief. Because, if + indicative and if + subjunctive express a positive entailment relation between clauses while although and unless express negative entailment. To validate this analysis a comprehension task was administered to 96 subjects divided among 9-, 11- and 19-year-olds. Nine-year-olds understood although and because while adults also comprehended unless and if + indicative. Generally the more positive beliefs the conjunction embodied, the easier its comprehension. The order of difficulty was because, although, if + indicative, unless, and if + subjunctive. Older subjects more often confused if + subjunctive with if + indicative. Understanding of the uncertainty conveyed by if + indicative and unless was linked to performance on a task of detecting uncertain outcomes.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Child Language , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 1982 , pp. 461 - 479
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1982

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Footnotes

[*]

The co-operation of the directors, campers, and counsellors of Potomac Day Camp is gratefully acknowledged. Additionally we appreciated the assistance of Myron I. Scholnick, who tape recorded the verbal material. Address for correspondence: Ellin K. Scholnick, Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, U.S.A.

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