Description

Semantics An Introduction to Meaning in Language Presents a general introduction to semantics , including the most recent developments. Ronnie Cann (Author), Ruth Kempson (Author), Eleni Gregoromichelaki (Author) 9780521525664, Cambridge University Press Paperback / softback, published 14 May 2009 306 pages 24.8 x 17.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.61 kg '... an excellent introduction to natural language semantics.' Klaus von Heusinger, Universität Stuttgart, Germany The study of meaning in language has developed dramatically over the last fifty years. Semantics is distinctive as it not only presents a general introduction to the topic, including the most recent developments, but it also provides a unique perspective for addressing current issues. It opens by introducing readers to the study of logic (natural deduction) as the background against which developments have taken place. This demonstrates the link between semantics and the study of reasoning and how this view can provide new solutions to the puzzles that have plagued the approaches presented in other textbooks. The major subject areas of semantics are discussed, including quantification, anaphora and discourse, tense and aspect, ellipsis and context, and word meaning. The book also presents state-of-the-art research in topics at the forefront of semantics. 1. Preliminaries for model building 2. The syntax of logical inference 3. The semantics of logical inference 4. Quantification and plurality 5. Anaphora, discourse and context 6. Time, tense and events 7. Ellipsis as a window on context 8. What a word can mean. Subject Areas: Philosophy [ HP ], Semantics, discourse analysis, etc [ CFG ], Philosophy of language [ CFA ], Linguistics [ CF ]