1. Chapter 5 Semantics
The First Week

2. Key points: Definition of semantics Conceptual approach
Behaviorist approach
Contextual approach

3. Difficulties: Meaning as concept Meaning as behavior
Meaning as context
Meaning as truth conditions

4. 5.1 Definition of Semantics
Semantics is the branch of linguistics which studies meaning in language.

5. (1) Even Einstein could have solved the equation.
It is not a good example to take in the question of semantics.
Because this meaning study of the sentence actually spills over into pragmatics, rather than semantics. Semantic study of meaning does not concern extra or external elements.

6. 5.2 Approaches to Meaning
The definition of meaning differs from theories to theories, from linguists to linguists.
Here are some of the important interpretations of meaning:

7. 5.2.1 Meaning as naming
This view that the meaning of an expression is what it refers to, or names, is often called referential theory or naming theory.
It was proposed by the ancient Greek scholar Plato.

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

9. Problems with the theory:
This theory seems applicable to nouns visible in the world only.
There are nouns which denote things that do not exist in the real world.

10. 5.2.2 Meaning as concept
Ogden and Richards suggested a model---semantic triangle (Figure1) illustrating the view of meaning as concept.
It is also called conceptual approach which believes the meaning of a linguistic expression is the concept, or idea or impression formed in the mind.

11. Figure 1: Semantic Triangle
Thought (concept)
Symbol Referent
(the word) (the object)

12. Comments on the theory:
There is no problem with the theory. It is the perfect theory in the field.
We may testify this by the process of children’s language acquisition.

13. 5.2.3 Meaning as behavior
This theory was proposed by the American linguist L. Bloomfield by the well-known story of Jack and Jill.
The theory believes that the meaning of a word is defined by observable behaviors. Or the meaning of a linguistic expression relies on or comes from the consequences of the behaviors triggered by the expression, which clearly draws on psychology.

14. Jill Jack
S r…………….s R

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

16. 5.2.4 Meaning as context
The theory was proposed by British linguist John R. Firth.
The theory believes that the meaning depends on both of the linguistic and situational contexts.

17. Ex. 1. I don’t like her. She’s tall and thin and moves like a crane
Ex.1. I don’t like her. She’s tall and thin and moves like a crane.---impression of awkwardness
Ex.2. I do like her. She’s tall and thin and moves like a crane.---impression of elegance

18. Two kinds of context
Tow kinds of context are recognized: a linguistic context and a situational context. Every utterance occurs in a particular spatio-temporal situation. Each utterance is limited by various factors of the situational context. These factors include:

19. Factors that limit the meaning of utterance
(i) the setting (formal, informal,…)
(ii) the speaker and hearer (relationship, position…)
(iii) the activities they are engaged in at the time
(iv) the presence or absence of other participants (relationship, position…)
(v) the presence of various external objects and events
The linguistic context alone is the weaker form of contextual views.

20. 5.2.5 Meaning as truth conditions
The meaning of a word or expression is determined by the truth conditions of the word, Such an approach to meaning is called truth-conditional theory\semantics.
S is true if and only if P. S is a sentence; P is a set of conditions guaranteeing the truth of S.

21. Peter is married.
The meaning of the sentence comes out this way: There is an individual called Peter, a social institution called marriage, and Peter is involved in the state of marriage.

22. The problem with the theory is it is only employed to declaratives
The problem with the theory is it is only employed to declaratives. Can you smoke
has no truth condition, or truth value.

23. Assignments: I. Define the following terms briefly: (1) semantics
(2) naming theory
(3) behaviorist theory
(4) conceptual theory

24. 2. Explain the semantic ambiguity of the following sentences by providing two or more sentences that paraphrase the multiple meaning. Example: She can’t bear children can mean either She can’t give birth to children or She can’t tolerate children.
(1) He waited by the bank.
(2) We bought her dog biscuits.
(3) He saw her drawing pencils.