1. I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman 12003.06.26 In Search of Intended Meaning I. Emre Sahin and Varol Akman Bilkent University Department of Computer Engineering 06800, Ankara, Turkey

2. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman2 Contents The Formula and “Intention Space” The Formula and “Intention Space” Intended Meaning in Writing Intended Meaning in Writing Intended Meaning in Reading Intended Meaning in Reading Remarks on some problems Remarks on some problems

3. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman3 The formula S: Text (Sentence, Symbol) S: Text (Sentence, Symbol) c: Circumstance (Context) c: Circumstance (Context) R: Language Conventions R: Language Conventions P: Intended Meaning (Content) P: Intended Meaning (Content) By Jon Barwise, On Circumstantial Relation Between Meaning and Content. 1985-1986

4. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman4 Intention Space Literary Works: No Single Intended Meaning Literary Works: No Single Intended Meaning Richness: Many intentions from text Richness: Many intentions from text Comprehension: Hunting Intentions of Author Comprehension: Hunting Intentions of Author Extension to the equation Extension to the equation

5. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman5 Intentio Auctoris Author tries to share intended meaning P. Author tries to share intended meaning P. Fiction: create circumstance, play with conventions, be rich... (many intended meanings) Fiction: create circumstance, play with conventions, be rich... (many intended meanings) Non-Fiction: assume circumstance, be clear... (single intended meaning) Non-Fiction: assume circumstance, be clear... (single intended meaning)

6. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman6 Writing Author has a dream: Author has a dream: > > “John is working with his rake.” “John has a rake in his hand.” “Leaves are admitting to John’s orders given with the rake in his hand.”

7. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman7 Writing (cont.) > >...... “John is under the tree.” “John is under the tree.” “He is working.” “He is working.” “He is raking leaves in the garden.” “He is raking leaves in the garden.”

8. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman8 “Efficiency” of intention There are (infinitely?) many ways to express some intention. There are (infinitely?) many ways to express some intention. Literary value = How expressed? Literary value = How expressed? R : Use of language? R : Use of language? c : Sound circumstance? c : Sound circumstance? S : Well defined symbol? S : Well defined symbol? P : Definite / Indefinite intended meaning? P : Definite / Indefinite intended meaning? Build R, c, S for P Build R, c, S for P

9. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman9 Evolution (Intentionis Auctoris) Top Intention: Moral of the story, thesis to be supported Top Intention: Moral of the story, thesis to be supported Progressively look for intentions to support top-level intention Progressively look for intentions to support top-level intentionOR Start somewhere Start somewhere Explore the intention space Explore the intention space Write as you learn yourself Write as you learn yourself

10. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman10 Intentio Lectoris For reader: A book not known = infinite intention space For reader: A book not known = infinite intention space World in the book: Progressively add elements World in the book: Progressively add elements Sequentiality: There is always some order in reading. Sequentiality: There is always some order in reading.

11. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman11 Comprehension Are language conventions identical with mine? (R) Are language conventions identical with mine? (R) How is the world in the book? (c) How is the world in the book? (c) What does the sentence mean? (S) What does the sentence mean? (S) What’s the intention of author? (P) What’s the intention of author? (P) Get P from R, c, S Get P from R, c, S

12. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman12 Reading I “John is under the tree.” the tree: I must know this one. (c) the tree: I must know this one. (c) > >

13. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman13 Reading II “He is working.” “He is working.” the tree: c the tree: c Working: Perhaps cutting the tree. Working: Perhaps cutting the tree.

14. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman14 Reading III “He is raking leaves in the garden.” “He is raking leaves in the garden.” > >

15. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman15 Reader’s Intention Space 1. Infinite 2. Tree Apple tree, maple, plum,...Apple tree, maple, plum,... Tree trunk, tree branch, tree leaf,...Tree trunk, tree branch, tree leaf,... Graph, genealogy,...Graph, genealogy,......... 3. > >, >,... >, >,...

16. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman16 Interpretation “John is under the tree. He is working. He is raking leaves in the garden.” “Common sense” interpretation “Common sense” interpretation “Covert Action” interpretation “Covert Action” interpretation Religious interpretation Religious interpretation “Kabbalist” interpretation “Kabbalist” interpretation

17. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman17 Reader’s Intention Space Infinite in terms of allusions. Infinite in terms of allusions. –Peirce, infinite semiosis Finite in terms of structure. Finite in terms of structure. –“Tree” does not both mean “flower” and “moon.” (Or is this wrong?) Interpretation and “overinterpretation” Interpretation and “overinterpretation” –Infinite semiosis does not mean that a text can mean anything.

18. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman18 Intentio Operis Open Open –Large intention space, “open” to interpret. –Richness –No single meaning –Keep intention space large –Ulysses Closed Closed –Definite number of intentions –Not much literary value –Definite meaning –Keep intention space small –Superman

19. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman19 Ambiguity I Large intention space. Large intention space. –Due to nonstandard R (Finnegans Wake) –Due to c, nonstandard environment –Due to S, ambiguous syntax etc. Filtering appropriate intentions. Filtering appropriate intentions. Usual in open texts. Usual in open texts.

20. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman20 Ambiguity II Reading text, sequentially Reading text, sequentially Infinite > P1 > P2 Infinite > P1 > P2 Intention subspace: P2 to P1 Intention subspace: P2 to P1 Intention superspace: P1 to P2 Intention superspace: P1 to P2 P2 incompatible with P1: Ambiguous P2 incompatible with P1: Ambiguous “There is an apple tree in the garden. There are oranges hanging from the tree.” “There is an apple tree in the garden. There are oranges hanging from the tree.” c1 : apple tree, c2 : orange tree c1 : apple tree, c2 : orange tree

21. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman21 Problems – Separating c and R Planet Planet –In an Science Fiction work, planet in R –In a children’s storybook, planet in c Describe every element in c Assume every element in R R c planet in an SF work planet in a children’ s book

22. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman22 Problems – Separating c and R What’s a good criterion for positioning the separation point? What’s a good criterion for positioning the separation point? What must an author assume writing a piece of text? What must an author assume writing a piece of text? Model Reader Model Reader Work Dependent Work Dependent Debate Debate

23. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman23 Problems – Relation S and R In which ways a sign is in R and is an S? In which ways a sign is in R and is an S? Proposal: Allusion / Structure analogy Proposal: Allusion / Structure analogy –There are infinite replacements of a word (that carries meaning) in a given position. –Yet all replacements must conform with language. Phonologically Phonologically Syntactically Syntactically Semantically Semantically

24. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman24 Problems – Intention Sets “This sentence is true.” “This sentence is true.” –Intention space contains some intention about itself. –Non well-founded sets “This sentence is false.” “This sentence is false.” –Paradox “blah, blah, blah... This announcement will not be repeated.” “blah, blah, blah... This announcement will not be repeated.”

25. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman25 Problems - Discarding Which intentions must be discarded in favor of the other? Which intentions must be discarded in favor of the other? Criteria? Criteria? Understanding : Discarding irrelevant intentions from intention space Understanding : Discarding irrelevant intentions from intention space Relevance? Relevance? Formalizing? Formalizing?

26. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman26 Some more formulas Perfect Translation: Perfect Translation: Not-so-perfect Translation Not-so-perfect Translation Minimize Minimize How? How?

27. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman27 Conclusion Step to formalize context Step to formalize context Application of Situation Semantics Application of Situation Semantics “Formal Criticism” “Formal Criticism” Heritage Heritage –Religion, Hermeneutics –Literature, Criticism –Logic, “Empirical Logic” –Linguistics, Semantics

28. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman28 Summary The Formula and “Intention Space” The Formula and “Intention Space” Intended Meaning in Writing Intended Meaning in Writing Intended Meaning in Reading Intended Meaning in Reading Remarks on some problems Remarks on some problems

29. 2003.06.26I Emre Sahin and Varol Akman29 Thank You! Please share your comments and questions.