<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This paper is intended to address the work “Against logical form”, authored by Johnson-Laird in 2010. In it, based on the theory of mental models, Johnson-Laird claims that the way people interpret sentences in natural language has nothing to do with logic. This is because that action is not related to logical forms. According to him, the mental activity is mainly linked to semantics and pragmatics. However, here, following arguments provided by López-Astorga, I try to show that the theory of mental models can be linked to syntactic structures. My main point is made by dealing with an argument given in the mentioned Johnson-Laird’s paper. In principle, that argument seems to undermine proposals such as that of López-Astorga. However, the present work proposes otherwise.</p>
</abstract>

This paper is intended to address the work “Against logical form”, authored by Johnson-Laird in 2010. In it, based on the theory of mental models, Johnson-Laird claims that the way people interpret sentences in natural language has nothing to do with logic. This is because that action is not related to logical forms. According to him, the mental activity is mainly linked to semantics and pragmatics. However, here, following arguments provided by López-Astorga, I try to show that the theory of mental models can be linked to syntactic structures. My main point is made by dealing with an argument given in the mentioned Johnson-Laird’s paper. In principle, that argument seems to undermine proposals such as that of López-Astorga. However, the present work proposes otherwise.

In Favor of Logical Form

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"In Favor of Logical Form"}

This paper is intended to address the work “Against logical form”, authored by Johnson-Laird in 2010. In it, based on the theory of mental models,...

In Favor of Logical Form

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 45 - 58

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2022-0003

Keywords
logical form, mental models, pragmatics, semantics, syntax

© 2022 Miguel López-Astorga, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In Favor of Logical Form

Published Online: Dec 30, 2022

Page range: 45 - 58

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2022-0003

Keywordslogical form, mental models, pragmatics, semantics, syntax

© 2022 Miguel López-Astorga, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
logical form, mental models, pragmatics, semantics, syntax