presupposições

Presuppositions are assumptions that are taken for granted in an utterance or text. They are background beliefs that a speaker or writer expects the listener or reader to share. Presuppositions are not explicitly stated but are implied. For example, in the sentence "John stopped smoking," it is presupposed that John used to smoke. This presupposition is triggered by the verb "stopped."

Presuppositions play a crucial role in communication by allowing speakers to convey complex information efficiently. They help to establish common ground between communicators and avoid redundant statements. If a presupposition is not shared, communication can break down or lead to misunderstandings.

Different linguistic elements can trigger presuppositions. These include certain verbs (like "know," "regret," "realize"), adverbs (like "still," "already"), noun phrases (like "the King of France"), and sentence structures (like cleft sentences). For instance, the phrase "the current King of France" presupposes that there is a current King of France, which is false, leading to a problematic presupposition.

The concept of presupposition is important in linguistics, philosophy of language, and pragmatics. Understanding presuppositions helps in analyzing how meaning is conveyed and how language is used in context. They highlight the implicit assumptions that underpin our understanding of language and the world.