Semantics Lecture Notes PDF

Semantics Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense ▪ Reference ▪ Referent ▪ Sense ▪ Linguistic Expression Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference vs. Referent ▪ Referent is the actual thing in the world. ▪ Reference is an...

Semantics Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense ▪ Reference ▪ Referent ▪ Sense ▪ Linguistic Expression Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference vs. Referent ▪ Referent is the actual thing in the world. ▪ Reference is an act (language expression) by which a speaker (or writer) uses language to enable a listener (o reader) to identify something in the real world. Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Example: Watch out for the car! = The word car is the (reference) Referent Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Elephant Cat Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference, Referent & Sense Example: Watch out for the car! (reference) Sense is a mental image/ concept Referent ( A picture of something in the mind) Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense ‫السيارة‬ Referent Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference, Referent & Sense Example: (Chinese) 汽车 (See Cho)! (meaning car) The word 汽车! Is the (reference) Referent ( sense) ? Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Because you don’t know Chinese Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Types of References & Referents Variable Multiple references Constant Physical One expression = multiple expression= One expression = one multiple referents one referents referent Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference (linguistics expression) Physical Referent Constant Physical One expression = 1. Moon one referent 2. Saudi Arabia 3. The Red sea Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference (linguistics expression) Referents Variable One expression = multiple referents 1. Orange 2. Employee Khaled Ahmad Sami Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Reference (linguistics expression) Referents Multiple references multiple expression= 1. The 44th President of USA one referents 2. The President of the USA from 2009 to 2017 Barak Obama 3. The first African American President of USA 4. The husband of Michelle Obama Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense Non-Physical Referents = No reference in real words Non-Physical Referents Examples 1. Functional Words 1. a/the/in/is 2. Abstract Notions 2. love/courage/confidence/ hate 3. Myth creatures or people 3. The unicorn Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense What is Sense (Pragmatics) Do the following words refer to things in the world? (1) almost Yes/No (2) probable Yes/No (3) and Yes/No (4) if Yes/No (5) above Yes/No All answers are NO, they have a sense (meaning) but they don’t refer to anything in the world. Dr. Dina M. Hammouri Unit 3 Reference and sense What is Sense (Pragmatics) What is intended by the word mean, meaning, etc. in the following examples, reference (R) or sense (S)? (1) When Helen mentioned 'the fruit cake', she meant that rock-hard object in the middle of the table R/S (2) When Albert talks about 'his former friend' he means me R/S (3) Daddy, what does unique mean? R/S (4) Purchase has the same meaning as buy. R/S (5) Look up the meaning of apoplexy in your dictionary. R/S (6) If you look out of the window now, you'll see who I mean. R/S Feedback (1) R (2) R (3) S (4) S (5) S (6) R Read pp. 26-35 Dr. Dina M. Hammouri