Glossary of Linguistic Terms

Antithesis Relation

Definition: 

An antithesis relation is a contrast relation in which:

  • the contrasted propositions express events or states that are incompatible with each other, and
  • the speaker communicates positive regard (belief or preference) for one or the other.
Kinds: 
Examples: 

(English)

How I use my thumbs is not the problem, but heredity is.

Rather than winning them with our arms, we’d win them by our example.
(Christian Science Monitor)

See Also: 
Proposition
Speaker
Source: 
Mann and Thompson 1987a
8–9, 16

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library. Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003.

LinguaLinks Ordering Information

Glossary Hierarchy

  • Meaning And Pragmatic Function
  • Interpropositional Relation
  • Contrast Relation
  • Antithesis Relation
  • Correction Relation