What is an 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.

Examples (English)

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

Source:
Mann and Thompson 1987a 16
Rather than winning them with our arms, we’d win them by our example.

(Christian Science Monitor, cited by Mann and Thompson 1987a 8–9 )

Kind
	Here is a kind of antithesis relation:
	What is a correction relation?

Generic
	An antithesis relation is a kind of
	What is a contrast relation?

Source
	Mann and Thompson 1987a 8–9, 16

Context for this page:

Concept module: antithesis relation
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): A
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

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

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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