Introduction to Linguistics
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Questions and Answers

Who is the author of the book 'Semantics, Second Edition'?

John I.Saeed

Which volume in the 'Introducing Linguistics' series covers Phonology?

  • John I.Saeed
  • Barbara Johnstone
  • Andrew Carnie
  • Andrew Spencer (correct)

    • Semantics and Semiotics are different fields.

    True

    The 'Introducing Linguistics' series is an indispensable resource for students and teachers, providing an introduction to the central subjects of contemporary ________.

    <p>linguistics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following areas is NOT mentioned as part of the division of linguistics?

    <p>Pragmatics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main purpose of the book discussed in the content?

    <p>To give the reader access to central ideas in the field of semantics and introduce important writers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Linguistic description involves different levels of analysis to reflect a speaker's knowledge.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an icon?

    <p>When there is a similarity between a sign and what it represents</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Semantics is the study of ______ communicated through language.

    <p>meaning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an index?

    <p>A sign closely associated with its signified, often in a causal relationship</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a symbol?

    <p>A conventional link between a sign and its signified</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the issue of circularity in defining word meanings?

    <p>The problem of circularity arises when defining the meaning of a word in terms of other words, leading to an endless loop of definitions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Language represents man's least sophisticated use of signs.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Meaning is a kind of ____________.

    <p>knowledge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do logicians typically represent propositions to avoid confusion with sentences?

    <p>By using capitals</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which term is traditionally used to describe non-literal uses of language?

    <p>Figurative language</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Literal and non-literal language are easy to distinguish.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Semantics is concerned with sentence meaning, while __________ is concerned with speaker meaning.

    <p>pragmatics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their definitions:

    <p>Syntax = Formal relation of signs to each other Semantics = Relations of signs to the objects to which the signs are applicable Pragmatics = Relation of signs to interpreters</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What concept does Devitt and Sterelny argue in their theory about names?

    <p>Causal theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do names typically get passed on?

    <p>By repeated uses and competition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The text suggests that speakers always have a deep knowledge of the referent when using a name.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term is used for the entity being referred to in linguistics?

    <p>referent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Referring is an action done by speakers, while denoting is a property of words.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In linguistic terms, nouns are meaningful because they denote __________ in the world.

    <p>entities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes a constant reference from a variable reference?

    <p>Constant reference refers to entities that remain the same across different utterances, while variable reference changes depending on context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following linguistic elements with their roles:

    <p>Names and noun phrases = Used to refer to entities Verbs and sentences = Denotes situations and events</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used in semantics to refer to the action of picking out or identifying with words?

    <p>referring or denoting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main focus of pragmatics?

    <p>context and common-sense reasoning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following are characteristics of compound words in English?

    <p>The first part often serves as a qualifier</p> Signup and view all the answers

    English speakers encounter words such as yew, copper, vodka, and hay. Provide an exact definition of each word based on the context provided: yew (noun: a tree), copper (noun: a metal), vodka (noun: a drink), hay (noun: farming product).

    <p>yew: a tree, copper: a metal, vodka: a drink, hay: a farming product</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Iconicity in language mainly refers to the use of onomatopoeia.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the focus of Chapter 8 in the content?

    <p>Functions of Language: Speech as Action</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In Chapter 9, what is discussed as Katz's Semantic Theory?

    <p>Lexical Relations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Metaphor and Metonymy are discussed in Chapter 11.

    <p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to refer to the mental store of words in a language, making a parallel with lists of words and meanings in dictionaries?

    <p>lexicon</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the relationship between word meaning and sentence meaning?

    <p>Word meaning is in the lexicon, while sentence meaning is composed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Semantic rules and grammatical rules are always separated in linguistic theories.

    <p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ferdinand de Saussure's diagram showed the patterning of words in the vocabulary, illustrating the relationship between reference and ____.

    <p>sense</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following terms with their descriptions:

    <p>Utterance = Created by speaking or writing a piece of language Sentence = Abstract grammatical elements obtained from utterances Proposition = Identified for establishing rules of valid deduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Introducing Linguistics Series

    • A concise and engaging introduction to central subjects of contemporary linguistics
    • Presupposes no prior knowledge of linguistics
    • Each volume sets out fundamental skills and knowledge of the field, providing an ideal educational platform for further study in linguistics

    Semantics

    • Written by John I. Saeed
    • Second edition published in 2003
    • Part of the Introducing Linguistics series
    • Focuses on the study of meaning in language

    Preliminaries

    • Semantics is the study of meaning in language
    • Challenges in doing semantics include:
      • Defining meaning
      • Distinguishing between literal and non-literal meaning
      • Accounting for context and pragmatics
    • Semantics is a crucial component of a model of grammar
    • Important assumptions in semantics include:
      • Reference and sense
      • Utterances, sentences, and propositions
      • Literal and non-literal meaning
      • Semantics and pragmatics

    Meaning, Thought, and Reality

    • Reference is a central concept in semantics
    • Types of reference include:
      • Names
      • Nouns and noun phrases
    • Reference as a theory of meaning
    • Mental representations of meaning include:
      • Concepts
      • Necessary and sufficient conditions
      • Prototypes
      • Relations between concepts
      • Acquiring concepts

    Semantic Description

    • Word meaning is a complex and multifaceted concept
    • Words and grammatical categories
    • Words and lexical items
    • Problems in pinning down word meaning include:
      • Homonymy
      • Polysemy
      • Synonymy
      • Opposites (antonymy)
      • Hyponymy
      • Meronymy
    • Lexical relations include:
      • Derivational relations
      • Lexical universals
      • Colour terms
      • Core vocabulary
      • Universal lexemes

    Sentence Relations and Truth

    • Logic and truth are central to sentence semantics
    • Necessary truths, a priori truths, and analyticity
    • Entailment and presupposition
    • Presupposition failure and triggers
    • Pragmatic theories of presupposition

    Sentence Semantics

    • Sentence semantics focuses on the meaning of sentences
    • Classifying situations:
      • Verbs and situation types
      • A system of situation types
      • Tense and aspect
      • Comparing aspect across languages
      • Combining situation type and aspect
    • Modality and evidentiality### Introduction to Semantics
    • The book is an introduction to semantics for readers new to the subject.
    • The aim of the book is to provide an overview of central ideas in the field and introduce readers to important writers in the field.

    Organization of the Book

    • The book is divided into three main sections:
      • Part I: Preliminaries (Chapters 1-2)
      • Part II: Semantic Description (Chapters 3-8)
      • Part III: Theoretical Approaches (Chapters 9-11)
    • Each chapter includes exercises and suggestions for further reading.

    Part I: Preliminaries

    • Chapter 1: Introduces the place of semantics within linguistics and its relations with philosophy and psychology.
    • Chapter 2: Explores the connections between semantics and other disciplines.

    Part II: Semantic Description

    • Chapters 3-8: Introduce central topics in the analysis of word and sentence meaning.
    • Topics include:
      • Modality, Evidentiality, and Sentence Semantics
      • Context and Inference
      • Functions of Language: Speech as Action
      • Meaning Components

    Part III: Theoretical Approaches

    • Chapters 9-11: Review three important semantic theories:
      • Componential Theory
      • Formal Semantics
      • Cognitive Semantics

    Features of the Book

    • Examples from different languages are given in the original transcription.
    • References to the semantics literature are provided throughout the text.
    • A list of symbols and abbreviations used in the text is included.

    Acknowledgments

    • The author thanks students, colleagues, and reviewers for their comments and feedback.
    • The author acknowledges the support of Trinity College Dublin and the Department of African Languages and Cultures of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.### Introduction to Semantics
    • Semantics is the study of meaning communicated through language.
    • It involves investigating how people understand meaning and how we can describe semantic knowledge.

    Important Concepts in Semantics

    • Phonology: the study of sounds in a language and how they combine to form words.
    • Syntax: the study of how words can be combined into sentences.
    • Semantics: the study of the meanings of words and sentences.
    • Semiotics: the study of signs and symbols, which is a broader field that encompasses linguistics.

    Challenges in Doing Semantics

    • The problem of circularity: how can we define words without using other words, and how do we avoid circular definitions?
    • The problem of exactness: how do we ensure that our definitions of words are accurate and precise?
    • The problem of context: how do we account for the role of context in determining the meaning of words and sentences?

    Strategies for Meeting the Challenges

    • Designing a semantic metalanguage to describe the semantic units and rules of languages.
    • Grounding words in non-linguistic concepts, such as real-world objects, to give them meaning.
    • Separating the literal meaning of words from their contextual effects.

    Semantics in a Model of Grammar

    • Semantics is often considered a component of grammar, parallel to syntax and phonology.
    • The goal of semantics is to set up a component of the grammar that describes the meaning of words and sentences.
    • There are different approaches to semantics, including the creation of semantic metalanguages, the modeling of conceptual knowledge, and the theory of literal language.

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    This quiz is an introduction to the central subjects of contemporary linguistics, covering the fundamental skills and knowledge of the field. Ideal for students and teachers, this quiz provides a concise and engaging platform for further study in linguistics.

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