Variable truth-value (VTV) of a sentence is a technical thing in formal semantics—it means that the truth-value of this sentence depends on the little thingy called variable assignment. While the term might seem misleading, it is useful for explaining why we still claim “He walked in” has a truth-value—it first has the VTV, and then we find some “discourse” assignment that converts VTV to truth-value. Also, variable assignment can be manipulated from within the sentence (anaphora, movement, you name it).
Variable truth-value (VTV) of a sentence is a technical thing in formal semantics—it means that the truth-value of this sentence depends on the little thingy called variable assignment. While the term might seem misleading, it is useful for explaining why we still claim “He walked in” has a truth-value—it first has the VTV, and then we find some “discourse” assignment that converts VTV to truth-value. Also, variable assignment can be manipulated from within the sentence (anaphora, movement, you name it).