Ed,
 
In reviewing Reed & Kellogg (Higher Lessons in English, ed. 1877-1907), I have
found them using this definition of a sentence: "A Sentence is the expression of
a thought in words"  The notion of "thought" is pre-theoretical.  This notion is
not well named, especially since later on in the same work the authors claim
that a phrase is not a thought!  What is meant is probably the notion of a
concept behind an assertion. All or parts of this concept lie behind an
affirmation, denial, command, request, or even question.  In the language of
mathematics (mathematical logic) I think it is the term proposition that names
this notion.  
 
Bruce

>>> [log in to unmask] 10/10/2005 12:54:41 PM >>>

Dear Folks,
     I have my own ideas on this, but I wondered what some of you might
say---succinctly, if possible---to someone who made the assertion:  "Each
sentence contains a thought."  They are talking about the written language and
about American English.

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