sentenceDureichstmir

SentenceDureichstmir is a term used in linguistic theory to describe a class of self-referential sentence constructions. It designates a sentence that embeds a meta-propositional claim about its own truth conditions within the same utterance. The term is a portmanteau of the word sentence and the surname Dureichstmir, attributed to a fictional linguist who introduced the concept in theoretical discussions.

Origin and naming: The term appears in imagined discussions of semantics and philosophy of language, credited to the fictional linguist Dureichstmir. It has since been used in thought experiments and classroom examples to explore how truth conditions interact with discourse and meta-language.

Form and variants: A sentenceDureichstmir typically comprises a core proposition P followed by a meta-clause M that comments on P’s truth conditions. Variants may place M before P or embed M inside the structure of P. The meta-clause can take forms such as “is true,” “is false,” or “depends on context.” Some formulations separate the meta-commentary as a parallel clausal unit to reduce outright paradox, while others fuse the meta-content into the same sentence.

Purpose and usage: The concept is employed to illustrate self-reference, recursive semantics, and the limits of simple truth-conditional accounts. It is used in theoretical discussions, examples in seminars, and exercises in discourse representation to show how meta-language interacts with propositional content and context.

See also: Self-reference, Liar paradox, Meta-language, Truth-conditions.