Semantics and Pragmatics How Can One Define What a Word's Meaning

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Semantics and Pragmatics How Can One Define What a Word's Meaning

What is Semantics? Semantics and Pragmatics Semantics is the part of linguistics that studies meaning in language: Semantics is closely related to pragmatics. I. The meaning(s) of a word. • Semantics deals with literal meaning. • (1) a. I can drive them to the party tomorrow. Pragmatics deals with the use of language, what it means in context. b. I can tuna for a living. c. Pass me a can of Coke, please. (2) a. He holds an important office. b. He holds a beer in his hand. c. He holds on to the seat belt. d. They hold an election. II. How the meaning of a sentence is obtained from the meaning of the words. Linguistics 201, Detmar Meurers Handout 5 (April 14, 2004) 1 3 The Meaning of Meaning How can one define what a word’s meaning is? Ideas: • Dictionary Definitions The words mean/meaning areusedindifferentways: • Mental Images John means to write ‘intends’ • Reference A green light means go. ‘indicates’ Health means everything ‘has importance’ Group work (15 minutes): His look was full of meaning ‘special import’ What does capitalist mean to you? ‘subjective feeling about • You are assigned to one of the three ideas. What does ‘cornea’ mean? • Reread the relevant passage in section 7.2 of the language files. • Discuss in your group The last kind of use is the kind of meaning studied in linguistic semantics. – what the particular idea consists of – what the advantages of the idea are – what the problems of the idea are Think of some examples for idea, advantages, and problems. • Think about how to present this idea clearly to class, including illustrating examples and write a couple of overheads for that purpose. • 2 Present the idea to class in 3-5 minutes. 4.

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Chapter Five Meaning
1. The Study of Meaning Semantics: The meaning of words: Lexical semantics Chapter Five The meaning of sentences: Propositional meaning, compositional meaning Meaning Linguistic semantics vs. Logical Meaning semantics/philosophical semantics Pragmatics: The meaning of utterances 1 2 2. Semantic Meaning Logicians and philosophers have tended to concentrate on a restricted range of sentences (typically, statements, or ‘propositions’) within Semantics is the study of meaning in language. a single language. Meaning has been studied for thousands of The linguistic approach aims to study the years by philosophers, logicians and linguists. properties of meaning in a systematic and E.g. Plato & Aristotle. objective way, with reference to as wide a range of utterances and languages as possible, ∴ broader in scope. 3 4 3. The meaning of meaning Geoffrey Leech (1974, 1981). Semantics: The 3. The meaning of meaning Study of Meaning. Seven types of meaning: C. K. Ogden & I. A. Richards (1923). The Meaning of Meaning. Conceptual meaning John means to write. Connotative meaning A green light means to go. Social meaning Health means everything. Associative Affective meaning His look was full of meaning. Meaning What is the meaning of life? Reflected and meaning What does ‘capitalist’ mean to you? Collocative meaning What does ‘cornea’ mean? Thematic meaning 5 6 1 3.2 Connotative meaning 3.1 Conceptual meaning The communicative value an expression has by ‘ ’ ‘ ’ Also called ‘denotative’ or ‘cognitive’ meaning. virtue of what it refers to, over and above its Refers to logical, cognitive or denotative purely conceptual content. content. A multitude of additional, non-criterial Concerned with the relationship between a properties, including not only physical word and the thing it denotes, or refers to.
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