Lecture 10 Semantics Sentence Interpretation

The positioning of words and phrases in syntactic structure helps determine the meaning of the entire sentence. The positioning of words and phrases in syntactic structure helps determine the meaning of the entire sentence. However, syntactic structure provides only part of the information needed to determine the meaning of a sentence. However, syntactic structure provides only part of the information needed to determine the meaning of a sentence. There are other factors contributing to sentence interpretation (pragmatics). There are other factors contributing to sentence interpretation (pragmatics).

Compositionality The Principle of Compositionality: The Principle of Compositionality: The meaning of a sentence is determined by the meaning of its component parts and the manner in which they are arranged in syntactic structure. The representation of structural ambiguity assumes an understanding of the nature of syntactic structure. The representation of structural ambiguity assumes an understanding of the nature of syntactic structure.

Structural Ambiguity Some phrases are structurally ambiguous. Some phrases are structurally ambiguous. The meanings of their component words can be combined in more than one way: The meanings of their component words can be combined in more than one way: wealthy men and women wealthy  men wealthy  men and women

Structural Ambiguity NPNP APNAP ANConNANConN wealthymenand womenwealthymenand women

Structural Ambiguity The manner in which words are grouped together in syntactic structure reflects the way in which their meanings are combined by the semantic component of the grammar. The manner in which words are grouped together in syntactic structure reflects the way in which their meanings are combined by the semantic component of the grammar. It is therefore, possible to represent structural ambiguity by providing a different tree structure for each interpretation that a particular utterance has. It is therefore, possible to represent structural ambiguity by providing a different tree structure for each interpretation that a particular utterance has.

Pragmatics Other necessary information needed to determine the meaning of a sentence comes from pragmatics. Other necessary information needed to determine the meaning of a sentence comes from pragmatics. Pragmatics includes the speaker’s and the addressee’s: Pragmatics includes the speaker’s and the addressee’s: - Background attitudes and beliefs, - Understanding of the context in which a sentence is uttered, and - Their knowledge of how language can be used to inform, persuade, mislead, or …

Beliefs and Attitudes Non-linguistic knowledge and beliefs can play an important role in selecting the antecedent for a pronominal (personal pronoun): Non-linguistic knowledge and beliefs can play an important role in selecting the antecedent for a pronominal (personal pronoun): The judge denied the prisoner’s request because he was cautious. The judge denied the prisoner’s request because he was dangerous. These preferences have nothing to do with structural principles. These preferences have nothing to do with structural principles. The crucial factor involves our shared beliefs about different groups within society: The crucial factor involves our shared beliefs about different groups within society: - Judge  cautious - Prisoner  dangerous (criminal)

Presupposition The assumption or belief implied by the use of a particular word or structure is called a presupposition: The assumption or belief implied by the use of a particular word or structure is called a presupposition: Headmittedthat the team had lost. Hesaidthat the team had lost. - Admit  the speaker is presupposing the truth of the claim. - Say  the speaker may not be presupposing the truth of the claim.

Setting All languages have forms whose use and interpretation depend on the location of the speaker and/or the addressee within a particular setting. All languages have forms whose use and interpretation depend on the location of the speaker and/or the addressee within a particular setting. They are called spatial deictics: They are called spatial deictics: This bookvs.That book close to the speakerdistant from the speaker Coming invs.Going in Going outComing out the speaker inthe speaker out

Discourse Properties of other utterances in the same speech event (the discourse) are crucial to understanding a sentence: Properties of other utterances in the same speech event (the discourse) are crucial to understanding a sentence: A child went for a walk in the park. While there, he saw a rabbit. Since it was injured, he took it home.

Conversational Implicature Users of a particular language are able to draw inferences about what is meant but not actually said. Users of a particular language are able to draw inferences about what is meant but not actually said. Information that is conveyed in this way is called a conversational implicature: Information that is conveyed in this way is called a conversational implicature: - Shall we go on a picnic this weekend? - I have to study for an exam.  (unable, unwilling) - I have to comb my hair.  (irrelevant) The ease with which we recognize and interpret implicatures stems from our knowledge of how people in our linguistic community use language to communicate with each other. The ease with which we recognize and interpret implicatures stems from our knowledge of how people in our linguistic community use language to communicate with each other.

Summing up The positioning of words and phrases in syntactic structure helps determine the meaning of the entire sentence. The positioning of words and phrases in syntactic structure helps determine the meaning of the entire sentence. Non-linguistic knowledge and beliefs can contribute greatly to the understanding of an utterance. Non-linguistic knowledge and beliefs can contribute greatly to the understanding of an utterance. All languages have forms whose use and interpretation depend on the location of the speaker and/or the addressee within a particular setting. All languages have forms whose use and interpretation depend on the location of the speaker and/or the addressee within a particular setting. Properties of other utterances in the same speech event are crucial to understanding. Properties of other utterances in the same speech event are crucial to understanding. Users of a particular language are able to draw inferences about what is meant but not actually said. Users of a particular language are able to draw inferences about what is meant but not actually said.