Introduction to Semantics

Introduction to Semantics PDF Author: Thomas Ede Zimmermann
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
ISBN: 3110314371
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 304

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Book Description
This textbook helps undergraduate students of language and linguistics taking their first steps in one of the core areas of grammar, introducing them to the basic ideas, insights, and techniques of contemporary semantic theory. Requiring no special background knowledge, the book starts with everyday observations about word meaning and use and then hightlights the role of structure in the analysis of the meanings of phrases and clauses, zooming in on the fascinating and vexing question of how speakers manage to meaningfully communicate with sentences and texts they have never come across before. At the same time, the reader becomes acquainted with the modern, functionalist characterization of linguistic meaning in terms of reference (extension) and information (intension), and learns to apply technical tools from formal logic to analyzing the meaning of complex linguistic expressions as being composed by the meanings of their parts. Each of the nine main chapters contains a variety of exercises for self-study and classroom use, with model solutions in the appendix. Extensive English examples provide ample illustration.

Introduction to Semantics

Introduction to Semantics PDF Author: Thomas Ede Zimmermann
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
ISBN: 3110314371
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Get Book Here

Book Description
This textbook helps undergraduate students of language and linguistics taking their first steps in one of the core areas of grammar, introducing them to the basic ideas, insights, and techniques of contemporary semantic theory. Requiring no special background knowledge, the book starts with everyday observations about word meaning and use and then hightlights the role of structure in the analysis of the meanings of phrases and clauses, zooming in on the fascinating and vexing question of how speakers manage to meaningfully communicate with sentences and texts they have never come across before. At the same time, the reader becomes acquainted with the modern, functionalist characterization of linguistic meaning in terms of reference (extension) and information (intension), and learns to apply technical tools from formal logic to analyzing the meaning of complex linguistic expressions as being composed by the meanings of their parts. Each of the nine main chapters contains a variety of exercises for self-study and classroom use, with model solutions in the appendix. Extensive English examples provide ample illustration.

Analyzing meaning

Analyzing meaning PDF Author: Paul R. Kroeger
Publisher: Language Science Press
ISBN: 3961101361
Category : Context (Linguistics)
Languages : en
Pages : 502

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Book Description
This book provides an introduction to the study of meaning in human language, from a linguistic perspective. It covers a fairly broad range of topics, including lexical semantics, compositional semantics, and pragmatics. The chapters are organized into six units: (1) Foundational concepts; (2) Word meanings; (3) Implicature (including indirect speech acts); (4) Compositional semantics; (5) Modals, conditionals, and causation; (6) Tense & aspect. Most of the chapters include exercises which can be used for class discussion and/or homework assignments, and each chapter contains references for additional reading on the topics covered. As the title indicates, this book is truly an INTRODUCTION: it provides a solid foundation which will prepare students to take more advanced and specialized courses in semantics and/or pragmatics. It is also intended as a reference for fieldworkers doing primary research on under-documented languages, to help them write grammatical descriptions that deal carefully and clearly with semantic issues. The approach adopted here is largely descriptive and non-formal (or, in some places, semi-formal), although some basic logical notation is introduced. The book is written at level which should be appropriate for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. It presupposes some previous coursework in linguistics, but does not presuppose any background in formal logic or set theory.

An Advanced Introduction to Semantics

An Advanced Introduction to Semantics PDF Author: Igor Mel'čuk
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108481620
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 451

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Book Description
Presents, in simple and clear terms, the way in which humans express their ideas by talking.

Meaning in Language

Meaning in Language PDF Author: D. A. Cruse
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 019926306X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 441

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Book Description
A comprehensive introduction to the ways in which meaning is conveyed in language. Alan Cruse covers semantic matters, but also deals with topics that are usually considered to fall under pragmatics. A major aim is to highlight the richness and subtlety of meaning phenomena, rather than to expound any particular theory. Rich in examples and exercises, Meaning in Language provides an invaluable descriptive approach to this area of linguistics for undergraduates and postgraduates alike.

Introduction to English Semantics and Pragmatics

Introduction to English Semantics and Pragmatics PDF Author: Patrick Griffiths
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
ISBN: 0748626883
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 206

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Book Description
An introduction to the linguistic study of meaning, this book outlines the meaning potential (semantics) of English and how language knowledge is put to use (pragmatics). As well as gaining a systematic overview of meaning in English, readers can learn how to argue for analyses. Among the significant concepts introduced are denotation, sense relations, event types, explicature, implicature, presupposition, metaphor, reference, speech acts and (at an elementary level) Generalised Quantifier Theory. Sense relations--such as antonymy and hyponymy--are presented as summarising patterns of entailment. The sense of a word is seen as the contributions it makes to the entailments carried by sentences.

Formal Semantics

Formal Semantics PDF Author: Ronnie Cann
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN:
Category : Semantics
Languages : en
Pages : 2

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Book Description


Introducing Semantics

Introducing Semantics PDF Author: Nick Riemer
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521851920
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 477

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Book Description
An introduction to the study of meaning in language for undergraduate students.

Realms of Meaning

Realms of Meaning PDF Author: Thomas R. Hofmann
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317901134
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 360

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Book Description
Realms of Meaning presents an accessible introduction to semantics. It provides an understanding of the way meaning works in natural languages, against a background of how we communicate with language. Avoiding theoretical terminology and linguistic theories it concentrates instead on the analysis of meaning, and looks in depth at such subjects as opposites and negatives, modal verbs, prepositions and word meanings. Examples are chosen mainly from English to provide material for the wider discussion of the principles of the subject, but European, East Asian and other languages also provide illuminating examples.

Knowledge of Meaning

Knowledge of Meaning PDF Author: Richard K. Larson
Publisher: Mit Press
ISBN: 9780262121934
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 639

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Book Description
Many textbooks in formal semantics are all versions of, or introductions to, the same paradigm in semantic theory: Montague Grammar. Knowledge of Meaning is based on different assumptions and a different history. It provides the only introduction to truth-theoretic semantics for natural languages, fully integrating semantic theory into the modern Chomskyan programme in linguistic theory and connecting linguistic semantics to research elsewhere in cognitive psychology and philosophy. As such, it better fits into a modern graduate or undergraduate programme in linguistics, cognitive science, or philosophy. Furthermore, since the technical tools it employs are much simpler to teach and to master, Knowledge of Meaning can be taught by someone who is not primarily a semanticist.

Semantic Analysis

Semantic Analysis PDF Author: Cliff Goddard
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199560285
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 512

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Book Description
A lively introduction to methods for articulating the meanings of words and sentences, and revealing connections between language and culture. It shows that the study of meaning can be rigorous, insightful, and exciting.