LING103 Semantics

Flashcards based on Linguistics lecture notes

Semantics

The study of meaning in language as a code rather than of meaning in context (pragmatics)

Pragmatics

Meaning in context

Sense

Word to concept

Reference

Word to real-world entity

Semantics

Meaning as a code

Pragmatics

Meaning in context

Truth-conditional semantics

Linguistic meaning is captured in the real-world conditions which must obtain in order for a sentence to be true

Componential semantics

Word meaning can be captured in terms of a set of ‘necessary and sufficient’ conditions

Conceptual semantics

Word meaning lies in the array of background knowledge that a word accesses

Truth Conditions

To know the meaning of a sentence is to know the circumstances under which the sentence would be true

Propositional Logic

A pure ‘mathematical’ metalanguage

Hyponymy

Inclusion

Antonymy

Exclusion

Meronymy

A part-whole relation

Synonymy

Different words with the same meaning

Polysemy

The same word with multiple meanings

Frame

Meaning is a function of the frame that a word accesses

Prototype Theory

Category membership not defined by set of semantic features but by resemblance to a proto-type concept and allowing for ‘fuzzy’ boundaries

Agent

Performer of action

Patient

Undergoer of action (change of state)

Theme

Undergoer of action (change of location/possession)

Instrument

Means by which action is performed

Location

Place where action performed or entity situated

Goal

Entity/Place toward which something moves/transfers

Source

Entity/Place from which something moves/transfers