constativity (C2)
noun
Pronunciation: /kənˈstætɪvɪti/
Definition
A philosophical concept that describes the relationship between the meaning of a sentence and its constituent parts, proposing that the meaning is determined by the internal structure of the sentence rather than external factors.
Examples
The theory of constativity argues that the meaning of a sentence can be derived from the meanings of its individual words and their syntactic relationships.
Constativity is a key concept in the philosophy of language, as it attempts to explain how meaning is constructed and understood.
The constativity of language suggests that the meaning of a sentence is fixed and determined by its internal structure, rather than being influenced by external context or interpretation.
How to Use constativity
- constativity theory (noun phrase)
- a theoretical framework for understanding the relationship between language and meaning — "The constativity theory has been influential in the development of linguistic theories."
- constitute a sentence (verb phrase)
- to form or construct a sentence — "The words constitute a sentence that is grammatically correct but semantically meaningless."
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