Semantics: A CoursebookThis practical coursebook introduces all the basics of semantics in a simple, step-by-step fashion. Each unit includes short sections of explanation with examples, followed by stimulating practice exercises to complete in the book. Feedback and comment sections follow each exercise to enable students to monitor their progress. No previous background in semantics is assumed, as students begin by discovering the value and fascination of the subject and then move through all key topics in the field, including sense and reference, simple logic, word meaning and interpersonal meaning. New study guides and exercises have been added to the end of each unit to help reinforce and test learning. A completely new unit on non-literal language and metaphor, plus updates throughout the text significantly expand the scope of the original edition to bring it up-to-date with modern teaching of semantics for introductory courses in linguistics as well as intermediate students. |
Common terms and phrases
abstract adjective answer antonyms asserting Bill context contradiction conversation declarative sentence deictic deictic expression derived describe dictionary entries English entailment entry test everyday extension fact Feedback Comment Definition Feedback Comment Practice felicity conditions following sentences following utterances Fred give given grammatical Guide and Exercises hearer Henry died hyponymy identify illocutionary act implicature inchoative indirect illocutions intransitive verb involved John kind language linguistic logical formulae logical notation main ideas raised Mary meaning postulates mentioned metaphor metonymy non-literal notion paraphrase particular performative utterance perlocution perlocutionary perlocutionary act polysemy Practice Feedback predicate premiss propositional content prototype questions to test read Unit referring expressions relationship role rules of inference semantic semanticists sense properties sense relations simple propositions situation someone speaker speech acts synonymy tackle the following Terry resigned test your understanding things true or false truth table two-place predicate understand these terms universe of discourse verb Yes No Feedback
Popular passages
Page 1 - I don't know what you mean by 'glory,' " Alice said. Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't — till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!
Page 1 - When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean— neither more nor less." "The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things." "The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master— that's all.
Page 1 - I thought it looked a little queer. As I was saying, that SEEMS to be done right — though I haven't time to look it over thoroughly just now — and that shows that there are three hundred and sixty-four days when you might get un-birthday presents — ' 'Certainly,' said Alice. And only ONE for birthday presents, you know. There's glory for you!' 'I don't know what you mean by "glory,'