DOC PREVIEW
UW-Madison LINGUIS 101 - Semantics part 1
Type Lecture Note
Pages 5

This preview shows page 1-2 out of 5 pages.

Save
View full document
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 5 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
View full document
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 5 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience
Premium Document
Do you want full access? Go Premium and unlock all 5 pages.
Access to all documents
Download any document
Ad free experience

Unformatted text preview:

Lecture 25Semantics part 1- pragmaticsMeaningSemantics is the study of the literal meaning of words, phrases, and sentencesLexical semantics- the meaning of individual words or morphemes which are listed in the lexiconCompositional semantics- how complex phrase and sentence meanings are built from the meanings of their component parts (lexical items)Pragmatics is the study of how factors of use and context contribute to messages conveyed by speakersSentence and utteranceSentence- group of words used to express a complete idea (Dogs are furry.)An abstract linguistic objectExists independent of contextUtterance- a particular use of a sentence, which occurs in a particular contextA physical eventOccurs at a certain time, in a certain place, has a actual speaker and audienceExample: can you take out the trash?Literal meaning- are you capable of taking out the trash? (yes or no?)Different utterances of the same sentence may meanA request: “please take out the trash”A literal question about physical capabilitiesA request that someone go awayA request that someone remove someone elseSpeaker meaning and literal meaningTwo different kids of meaningsLiteral meaning- literal meaning of the linguistic structures. Sentences have only literal meaningSpeaker meaning- what we can construe about the speaker’s intended message. Derived from the literal meaning plus information about the context of utterance. An utterance has speaker meaning as well as literal meaningLiteral meaningThe literal meaning of a sentence is computed from two primary sourcesThe lexicon- meanings of individual words and morphemes in the languageThe syntax- rules for combining these units in the languageSpeaker meaningSpeaker meaning is computed from two componentsLiteral meaning (lexicon + syntax)ContextWho is speakingWho are they speaking toWhere are theyWhat are they doingWhat other events led up to the utteranceComputing speaker meaningSpeaker meaning can vary from context to contextYet the conclusions speakers raw are systematic and consistent. How are we computing speaker meaning?Rule governed process of linguistic inferenceCooperative speech partnersH.P. Grice (1913-1988) : speakers assume that their conversation partners always follow the cooperative principleThe cooperative principle: make your contribution appropriate to the conversationGrice’s conversational maximsWhat is an “appropriate” contribution?The maxim of relevance – be relevantThe maxim of quality – try to make your contribution one that is trueThe maxim of quantity – do not make your contribution more or less informative than requiredThe maxim of manner – avoid ambiguity and obscurity; be brief and orderlyDeviant discourse – someone violating a maxim either on purpose, or by accident but is hiding itImplicaturePeople sometimes intentionally violate a conversational maxim in an obvious way, in order to implicate a certain speaker meaningIf the literal meaning does not satisfy the cooperative principle, speakers will make an inference that the speaker meaning is different from the literal meaningImplicature- a linguistic inference based on literal meaning and context of utteranceRelevance implicaturesQ: Are you going to the movie tonight?A: I have to studySpeaker meaning- no I’m not going to the movieQuality implicaturesQ: what’s the weather like today?A: oh, just another hot and steamy December day in Wisconsin- time to break out the suntan lotionSpeaker meaning- what a stupid question, it’s December in Wisconsin- its coldQuantity implicatures(context- there are three students in the class: Mary, Bob and Jill)Q: how did the students do on the exam?A: Mary and Bpb did wellSpeaker meaning- jill did not do wellManner implicaturesQ: did you get the homework I turned in?A: I received two pieces of paper stapled together and covered in black squigglesSpeaker meaning- that homework was not goodLINGUIS 101 1st Edition Lecture 25 Semantics part 1- pragmatics Meaning -Semantics is the study of the literal meaning of words, phrases, andsentences oLexical semantics- the meaning of individual words or morphemes which are listed in the lexicon oCompositional semantics- how complex phrase and sentence meanings are built from the meanings of their component parts (lexical items) -Pragmatics is the study of how factors of use and context contributeto messages conveyed by speakers Sentence and utterance -Sentence- group of words used to express a complete idea (Dogs are furry.) oAn abstract linguistic objectoExists independent of context -Utterance- a particular use of a sentence, which occurs in a particular context oA physical event oOccurs at a certain time, in a certain place, has a actual speaker and audience -Example: can you take out the trash?oLiteral meaning- are you capable of taking out the trash? (yes or no?)oDifferent utterances of the same sentence may mean A request: “please take out the trash”A literal question about physical capabilities A request that someone go away A request that someone remove someone else Speaker meaning and literal meaning -Two different kids of meaningsoLiteral meaning- literal meaning of the linguistic structures. Sentences have only literal meaning oSpeaker meaning- what we can construe about the speaker’s intended message. Derived from the literal meaning plus information about the context of utterance. An utterance has speaker meaning as well as literal meaning -Literal meaning oThe literal meaning of a sentence is computed from two primary sources The lexicon- meanings of individual words and morphemes in the language The syntax- rules for combining these units in the language -Speaker meaning oSpeaker meaning is computed from two components Literal meaning (lexicon + syntax) Context Who is speaking Who are they speaking toWhere are theyWhat are they doing What other events led up to the utterance Computing speaker meaning -Speaker meaning can vary from context to context -Yet the conclusions speakers raw are systematic and consistent. How are we computing speaker meaning?oRule governed process of linguistic inference Cooperative speech partners -H.P. Grice (1913-1988) : speakers assume that their conversation partners always follow the cooperative principle oThe cooperative principle: make your contribution appropriateto the conversation -Grice’s conversational maxims oWhat is an


View Full Document

UW-Madison LINGUIS 101 - Semantics part 1

Type: Lecture Note
Pages: 5
Download Semantics part 1
Our administrator received your request to download this document. We will send you the file to your email shortly.
Loading Unlocking...
Login

Join to view Semantics part 1 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or
We will never post anything without your permission.
Don't have an account?
Sign Up

Join to view Semantics part 1 2 2 and access 3M+ class-specific study document.

or

By creating an account you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Of Use

Already a member?