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. Ed To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This message may contain confidential information, and is intended only for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/