Semantics & PragmaticsJorge Zúñiga S.

Paradigmas Lingüísticos

What is meaning?

• Nature of meaning

• What it really means

Dictionary definitions:

Prescriptivism

Descriptivism

What is taken into consideration by linguists

Process

Dictionary definition

Understanding the meaning

Meaning of the word and their definition (words used)

e.g.ECTOMERE: “a blastomere that develops into ectoderm”

How do dictionaries function?

DIVINE “being or having the nature of a deity”

DEITY “divinity”

PRIDE “the quality or state of being proud”

PROUD “feeling or showing pride”

MENTAL IMAGES

“Mona Lisa”

“Lecture”

•The teacher’s viewpoint•The students’ viewpoint

“Forget”

The matter of what image is attached to this.

The important role played by the referent

Name: Bill Clinton (referent)Phrase: the winner of the 1992 U.S. presidential election

Bill Clinton is married to Hillary Clinton.The winner of the 1992 U.S. presidential election is married to Hillary Clinton.(The same thing)Robin wanted to know if Bill Clinton was the winner of the 1992 U.S. presidential electionRobin wanted to know if Bill Clinton was Bill Clinton.

Meaning relationships

Synonym: if they have the same meaningHomonymy: different meanings sharing the same formAntonyms: words in some sense opposite in meaningEntailment: one meaning holds another meaning Homophony: same sounds different meaningPolisemy: several meanings for the same wordHiperonymy: inclusion relationship (cat, dog, seagull=animal)

Sofa Armchair

Furniture Furniture

Used for sitting Used for sitting

Has back and arms Has back and arms

Long

Words’ meaning can be broken down into smaller parts known as meaning components or semantic features

“The sheriff killed Jesse”

“The sheriff killed Jesse, but Jesse is still alive”

Semantic decomposition or componential analysis

There is no given connection between word and meaning.

Word: Chair

Chaise (French)Stuhl (German)Sèdia (Italian)Silla (Spanish)

TYPES OF MEANINGS:

Conceptual meaning: basic and essential components of meaning.

Associative meaning: stylistic meaning of words.

Semantic features

There is certain “oddness”

Why does it happen to us?

The hamburger ate the man. NP V NP

Pragmatics…

Intended speaker meaning…

« FALL BABY SALE »

SPEECH ACTS THEORY

Forms FunctionsDid you eat the food? QuestionEat the food (please) Command (request)You ate the food Statement

REQUESTING-COMMANDING-QUESTIONING-INFORMING

Direct Speech Act v/s Indirect Speech Act

Can you ride a bicycle?

Can you pass the salt? (asking or requesting?)