The First Week Chapter 5 Semantics. Key points: Definition of semantics Conceptual approach Behaviorist approach Contextual approach.

The First WeekThe First Week

Chapter 5 SemanticsChapter 5 Semantics

Key points:Key points:

Definition of semanticsDefinition of semantics Conceptual approachConceptual approach Behaviorist approachBehaviorist approach Contextual approachContextual approach

Difficulties:Difficulties:

Meaning as conceptMeaning as concept Meaning as behaviorMeaning as behavior Meaning as contextMeaning as context Meaning as truth conditionsMeaning as truth conditions

5.1 Definition of Semantics5.1 Definition of Semantics

Semantics is the branch of Semantics is the branch of linguistics which studies meaning linguistics which studies meaning in language. in language.

(1) Even Einstein could have solved the (1) Even Einstein could have solved the equation.equation.

It is not a good example to take in the It is not a good example to take in the question of semantics.question of semantics.

Because this meaning study of the sentence Because this meaning study of the sentence actually spills over into pragmatics, rather actually spills over into pragmatics, rather than semantics. Semantic study of meaning than semantics. Semantic study of meaning does not concern extra or external elements. does not concern extra or external elements.

5.2 Approaches to Meaning5.2 Approaches to Meaning

The definition of meaning differs from The definition of meaning differs from theories to theories, from linguists to theories to theories, from linguists to linguists.linguists.

Here are some of the important Here are some of the important interpretations of meaning: interpretations of meaning:

5.2.1 Meaning as naming5.2.1 Meaning as naming

This view that the meaning of an This view that the meaning of an expression is what it refers to, or expression is what it refers to, or names, is often called names, is often called referential referential theory theory or or naming theory. naming theory.

It was proposed by the ancient Greek It was proposed by the ancient Greek scholar Plato.scholar Plato.

According to this theory, the linguistic According to this theory, the linguistic forms or symbols, in other words, the forms or symbols, in other words, the words used in a language are taken to be words used in a language are taken to be labels of the objects they stand for. So the labels of the objects they stand for. So the meaning of a word is just the for the object meaning of a word is just the for the object or referent in the real world.or referent in the real world.

Problems with the theory:Problems with the theory:

1.1. This theory seems applicable to This theory seems applicable to nouns visible in the world only.nouns visible in the world only.

2.2. There are nouns which denote There are nouns which denote things that do not exist in the real things that do not exist in the real world.world.

5.2.2 Meaning as concept5.2.2 Meaning as concept

Ogden and Richards suggested a model---Ogden and Richards suggested a model---semantic triangle (Figure1) illustrating the semantic triangle (Figure1) illustrating the view of meaning as concept. view of meaning as concept.

It is also called conceptual approach which It is also called conceptual approach which believes the meaning of a linguistic believes the meaning of a linguistic expression is the concept, or idea or expression is the concept, or idea or impression formed in the mind.impression formed in the mind.

Figure 1:Figure 1: Semantic Triangle Semantic Triangle

Thought (concept)Thought (concept)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Symbol ReferentSymbol Referent (the word) (the object)(the word) (the object)

Comments on the theory:Comments on the theory:

There is no problem with the theory. It is There is no problem with the theory. It is the perfect theory in the field. the perfect theory in the field.

We may testify this by the process of We may testify this by the process of children’s language acquisition.children’s language acquisition.

5.2.3 Meaning as behavior5.2.3 Meaning as behavior This theory was proposed by the American This theory was proposed by the American

linguist L. Bloomfield by the well-known linguist L. Bloomfield by the well-known story of Jack and Jill. story of Jack and Jill.

The theory believes that the meaning of a The theory believes that the meaning of a word is defined by observable behaviors. word is defined by observable behaviors. Or the meaning of a linguistic expression Or the meaning of a linguistic expression relies on or comes from the consequences relies on or comes from the consequences of the behaviors triggered by the of the behaviors triggered by the expression, which clearly draws on expression, which clearly draws on psychology. psychology.

Jill JackJill Jack

S r…………….s RS r…………….s R

Problems with the theory:Problems with the theory:

If Jack had fetched some water for Jill, the If Jack had fetched some water for Jill, the meaning of “I’m thirsty” turned up as “She meaning of “I’m thirsty” turned up as “She wants to drink water rather than eat the wants to drink water rather than eat the apple”. The decoding went on the wrong apple”. The decoding went on the wrong tracks. The theory failed to explain this tracks. The theory failed to explain this possibility.possibility.

5.2.4 Meaning as context5.2.4 Meaning as context

The theory was proposed by British liThe theory was proposed by British linguist John R. Firth.nguist John R. Firth.

The theory believes that the meaning The theory believes that the meaning depends on both of the linguistic and depends on both of the linguistic and situational contexts.situational contexts.

Ex.1. I don’t like her. She’s tall and thin Ex.1. I don’t like her. She’s tall and thin and moves like a crane.---impression of and moves like a crane.---impression of awkwardness awkwardness

Ex.2. I do like her. She’s tall and thin and Ex.2. I do like her. She’s tall and thin and moves like a crane.---impression of moves like a crane.---impression of eleganceelegance

Two kinds of contextTwo kinds of context

Tow kinds of context are recognized: aTow kinds of context are recognized: a ling linguistic contextuistic context and a and a situational contextsituational context. Ev. Every utterance occurs in a particular spatio-tery utterance occurs in a particular spatio-temporal situation. Each utterance is limiteemporal situation. Each utterance is limited by various factors of the situational conted by various factors of the situational context. These factors include: xt. These factors include:

Factors that limit the meaning of Factors that limit the meaning of utteranceutterance

(i) the setting (formal, informal,…)(i) the setting (formal, informal,…) (ii) the speaker and hearer (relationship, (ii) the speaker and hearer (relationship,

position…)position…) (iii) the activities they are engaged in at the time(iii) the activities they are engaged in at the time (iv) the presence or absence of other (iv) the presence or absence of other

participants (relationship, position…)participants (relationship, position…) (v) the presence of various external objects and (v) the presence of various external objects and

eventsevents The linguistic context alone is the weaker form of The linguistic context alone is the weaker form of

contextual views.contextual views.

5.2.5 Meaning as truth conditions5.2.5 Meaning as truth conditions

The meaning of a word or expression is The meaning of a word or expression is determined by the truth conditions of the determined by the truth conditions of the word, Such an approach to meaning is word, Such an approach to meaning is calledcalled truth-conditional theory truth-conditional theory\semantics.\semantics.

S is true if and only if P. S is a sentence; P S is true if and only if P. S is a sentence; P is a set of conditions guaranteeing the is a set of conditions guaranteeing the truth of S.truth of S.

Peter is married.Peter is married. The meaning of the sentence comes out The meaning of the sentence comes out

this way: There is an individual called this way: There is an individual called Peter, a social institution called marriage, Peter, a social institution called marriage, and Peter is involved in the state of and Peter is involved in the state of marriage.marriage.

The problem with the theory is it is only The problem with the theory is it is only employed to declaratives. Can you smokeemployed to declaratives. Can you smoke

has no truth condition, or truth value.has no truth condition, or truth value.

Assignments:Assignments:

I. Define the following terms briefly:I. Define the following terms briefly:

(1) semantics(1) semantics

(2) naming theory(2) naming theory

(3) behaviorist theory(3) behaviorist theory

(4) conceptual theory(4) conceptual theory

2. Explain the semantic ambiguity of the fo2. Explain the semantic ambiguity of the following sentences by providing two or morllowing sentences by providing two or more sentences that paraphrase the multiple e sentences that paraphrase the multiple meaning. Example: meaning. Example: She can’t bear childreShe can’t bear childrenn can mean either can mean either She can’t give birth to She can’t give birth to childrenchildren or or She can’t tolerate children. She can’t tolerate children.

(1) He waited by the bank.(1) He waited by the bank. (2) We bought her dog biscuits.(2) We bought her dog biscuits. (3) He saw her drawing pencils.(3) He saw her drawing pencils.