
Semantics
An Introduction to Meaning in Language
Cambridge University Press
Published on 14. May 2009
Book
Hardback
306 pages
978-0-521-81962-6 (ISBN)
Description
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.
Reviews / Votes
'... an excellent introduction to natural language semantics.' Klaus von Heusinger, Universitaet Stuttgart, GermanyMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
714 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-81962-6 (9780521819626)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Ronnie Cann is a Reader in the Department of Linguistics and English Language at the University of Edinburgh. Ruth Kempson is a Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Philosophy at King's College London. Eleni Gregoromichelaki is a Research Associate in the Department of Philosophy at King's College London.
Author
University of Edinburgh
King's College London
King's College London
Content
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.