than one subject or predicate, there would be more than one
proposition. Thus when we say 'The Jews and Carthaginians were Semitic
peoples and spoke a Semitic language,' we have four propositions
compressed into a single sentence for the sake of brevity.

224. On the other hand when we say 'Either the Carthaginians were of
Semitic origin or argument from language is of no value in ethnology,'
we have two propositions only in appearance.

225. The complex proposition then must be distinguished from those
contrivances of language for abbreviating expression in which several
distinct statements are combined into a single sentence.



_Verbal and Real Propositions_.


226. A Verbal Proposition is one which states nothing more about the
subject than is contained in its definition, e.g. 'Man is an animal';
'Men are rational beings.'

227. A Real Proposition states some fact not contained in the
definition of the subject, e.g. 'Some animals have four feet.'

228. It will be seen that the distinction between verbal and real
propositions assumes a knowledge of the precise meaning of terms, that
is to say, a knowledge of definitions.

229. To a person who does not know the meaning of terms a verbal