语义学课件(1)

1.4 Main branches of semantics
1.4.1 Theoretical basis: 1.4.1.1 formal/Logical/philosophical semantics Logic is concerned with truth and inference, that is, with determining the conditions under which a proposition is true and the conditions under which one proposition may be inferred or deduced from other propositions. (Mccauley, 1981) （李福印， 111）
Ferdinand de Saussure (1857-1913)
1916: Cours de linguistique générale （course in general linguistics）
Jost Trier (1894-1970) semantic fields 1)Vocabulary is regarded as ‘an integrated system of lexemes interrelated in sense’. 2) The whole vocabulary can be divided up into fields. 3)Words in each field are semantically related and define one another. Example: word field: buildings house - cottage - castle - farmstead - barn - tower - skyscraper - etc.
One of the most famous books on semantics is The Meaning of Meaning (Ogden & Richards) published in 1923
1980s semantics began to be introduced into China
1.4 Main branches of semantics
1.4.1 Theoretical basis 1.4.1.1 formal/Logical/philosophical semantics 1.4.1.2 historical semantics 1.4.1.3 structural semantics 1.4.1.4 cognitive semantics 1.4.2. Research object 1.4.2. 1 lexical semantics 1.4.2. 2 compositional semantics 1.4.2. 3 discourse semantics
Michel Bréal (1883): - coined la sémantique
Gustaf Stern (1931) Meaning and change of meaning: with special reference to the English language
1.3.3 Synchronic Semantics
e.g. The marriage is on rocks. Our relationship is off the tracks. Our relationship has hit a dead-end street. It’s been a long, bumpy road. We are at a crossroads. We are stuck. (Lakoff, 1993:417) LOVE IS A JOURNEY
Behaviorism (American Structuralism) Bloomfield, Leonard (1887-1949) 1933: Language. - Sense relations (synonymy, antonymy, polysemy etc.) 1956: Lounsbury and Goodenough componential analysis used for kinship terminology-a breakthrough eg: woman = [+ human] [+ adult] [- male]
C.Chr. Reisig (ca. 1825) - The study of grammar consists of : semasiology, etymology, syntax
The objective of semasiology is to study the change of meaning and its causes
1.3.4 From Semantics to Pragmatics
Ludwig Wittgenstein (1889-1951) 1953: Philosophical Investigations-Meaning is use John L. Austin (1917-1961) 1962: How to Do Things with Words— speech act theory
1.2 Etymology
1883 coined by Michel Bréal ( la sémantique ) officially in his article of “the intellectual laws of language: a sketch in semantics” sema-sign; semantikos-significant; semainein-to show, signify, indicate by a sign 1894 “semantics” was introduced by American scholar Charles R. Lanman, in a paper entitled “Reflected meanings: a point in semantics” 1897 Bréal ‘s book Semantics: Studies in the Science of Meaning— indicate the establishment of semantics as an independent discipline. 1900 It’s English version came out
1. Semantics: an Introduction
Bai Lifang Hainan University
contents
1.1 Definition 1.2 Etymology 1.3 History 1.4 Main branches of semantics 1.5 semantics and neighboring disciplines 1.6 Three Challenges in Doing Semantics 1.7 Meeting the Challenges 1.8 some basic concepts and distinctions
1.3.5 Recent developments in semantics (1970s-)
Multi-model (formal, non-formal); multidisciplinary (philosophy, logic, psychology, sociology; machine-translation; artificial intel来自百度文库igence);
Did “meaning” arise by nature or/ through convention/agreement
Do speech sounds have meaning? Mo-tse （墨子） (BC. 475-221)-“所以谓 ，名也；所谓，实也” 。
1.3.2 Diachronic Semantics
Research topics:
set theory ，proposition, truth , inference, propositional logic, quantifiers, definition of meaning; the relation between signifier and signified; connotation and denotation （ reference）；truth condition; formalization; possible world
1.1 Definition:
A study of the meaning of linguistic units, words and sentences in particular. Its goal is to reveal how language are matched with their proper meanings by the speakers of that language.
1.3 History
1.3.1 Philosophical Thinking
Plato (BC. 427-348) - dialogue “Kratylos”
Cratylus says that everything has a right name of its own, which comes by nature, and that a name is not whatever people call a thing by agreement, just a piece of their own voice applied to the thing, but that there is a kind of inherent correctness in names, which is the same for all men, both Greeks and barbarians.
[…] for my part, I have often talked with Cratylus and many others, and cannot come to the conclusion that there is any correctness of names other than convention and agreement. For it seems to me that whatever name you give to a thing is its right name; and if you give up that name and change it for another, the later name is no less correct that the earlier.
multi-level (word, sentence, text)
Cognitive approach: Eleanor Rosch (1938): Prototype theory Eg: in the category of bird, robin is a more important member than penguin G. Lakoff / M. Johnson (1980) -Metaphors We Live By. Our conceptual system is shaped by the metaphors we use
1.3 History
1.3.1 Philosophical Thinking 1.3.2 Diachronic Semantics 1.3.3 Synchronic Semantics 1.3.4 From Semantics to Pragmatics 1.3.5 Recent developments in semantics