When "Suspect" means contradictory things!

[Docle Lingua]

Hello!
I'm glad to be part of these lovely forums.

I've noticed something, and would like to discuss with you and know what you think of it.

Please read this sentences:

Did John really do that? I suspect he is a human!
(Here the speaker has doubts that John is human).

What was that we saw? It looks pretty much like us, I suspect it is a human.
(Here, the speakers thinks -but not sure- that what they saw was a human)

It was easy to guess the meaning in the previous sentences from the context.

But sometimes, the context could be vague. as in this case:

"I don't know what you saw, but bearing in mind what sort of animals live here, I suspect it is a bear."
Is the speaker here saying that they think that it is really a bear?
Or do they think that its is unlikely it is a bear?

So, what do you think?

 

[5jj]

IDid John really do that? I suspect he is a human!
(Here the speaker has doubts that John is human).

No. It means that you believe that he is human. There is no article before human

"I don't know what you saw, but bearing in mind what sort of animals live here, I suspect it is a bear."
Is the speaker here saying that they think that it is really a bear?

Yes.

Or do they think that its is unlikely it is a bear?

No. That would be I doubt it's a bear.

 

[jutfrank]

Did John really do that? I suspect he is a human!
(Here the speaker has doubts that John is human).

That doesn't make much sense to me. Are you sure the speaker didn't say I suspect he isn't human?

 

[Tarheel]

"I suspect that John is human."

Are they reptiles?

 

[Docle Lingua]

No. It means that you believe that he is human. There is no article before human

Yes.

No. That would be I doubt it's a bear.

Thank you!
So let me get this right, suspect is used when you thing that something is likely to be?
While doubt is when something is not likely to be or happen?

 

[Docle Lingua]

That doesn't make much sense to me. Are you sure the speaker didn't say I suspect he isn't human?

The speaker thinks that John is ruthless, so he could be a beast or a demon ... etc but not a human.

 

[Docle Lingua]

"I suspect that John is human."

Are they reptiles?

No, But they think John might be one. LOL.

 

[5jj]

The speaker thinks that John is ruthless, so he could be a beast or a demon ... etc but not a human.

In other words, the speaker said isn't, as jutfrank suggested, not is.

 

[Tarheel]

No, But they think John might be one. LOL.

Then you don't mean "is". You mean " isn't" (as suggested elsewhere).

 

[Barque]

Did John really do that? I suspect he is a human!
(Here the speaker has doubts that John is human).

I suspect the speaker's being ironic. Possibly John's someone who doesn't usually reveal his emotions or feelings, and in this case he did something that shows he's a normal human after all. He means "Oh, so John's human after all!"

suspect is used when you thing that something is likely to be?

Yes. But it can't be used in any and every situation where you think something is likely.