Reference · conlang

Meaning, model, validity

Three related layers: what a clause means, what is true in one declared interpretation, and what holds in every finite model up to a bound.

LayerQuestionTool
MeaningWhat does this clause mean?lexeme_meaning, build_meaning, relative/complement builders
ModelIs it true in this interpretation?evaluate, entails
ValidityIs it true in every model up to size N?valid, valid_entails

Declared model (level 3)

Domain: ana, bo

lex:sun:  ana
lex:moon: bo
lex:see:  ana, bo
FormulaValueReason
lex:sun(ana)trueana is in lex:sun
lex:sun(bo)falsebo is not
lex:moon(bo)truebo is in lex:moon
lex:see(ana, bo)truethe pair is in lex:see
forall x (lex:moon(x) -> lex:sun(x))falsemoon(bo) is true, sun(bo) is false

Entailment vs validity

CallScopeCan return
entails(model, premises, conclusion)The one declared modelEntailment
valid(formula, max_domain=3)All non-empty models up to size 3valid, invalid, unknown
valid_entails(premises, conclusion, max_domain=3)All non-empty models up to size 3valid, invalid, unknown

Do not confuse them. evaluate and entails never search other models. valid and valid_entails ignore the declared model and can return unknown when the model budget runs out.

Where the sections come from

Primary source: feature guide, Spec reference, and the glossary.

Lessons: Meaning is not the model · Entailment is not validity.