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UW-Madison LINGUIS 101 - Semantics part 2
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Compositional semantics- literal meaning of sentences and phrasesWhat is literal meaning?Gottlob Frege (1848-1925)Meaning equals reference: the entities in the real word described by the word/ phraseMeaning equals sense: the internal content of the description, independent of actual things in the worldReferenceReference of an expression is the actual thing in the word that is describedWhite house- refers to the actual buildingWisconsin- refers to the physical placeFlower- refers to the set of things that are flowersProblems with referenceExpressions which have sense but no referenceFantasy words: unicorn, dragonNegative words: nobody is in the roomFunction words : very, the, but, whySame reference, but different senses:The number of dwarves in snow whiteThe number of days in a weekSenseSense: mental representation of meaning. “concept” associated with an expression“bachelor” – reference- set of all bachelorssense- unmarried, male, humanmany expressions have both reference and senseproblems with senseproper names have only reference, no sense“Oprah Winfrey” reference (the actual person), sense (none)reference usagetomorrow, the U.S president will leave for Afghanistantomorrow, Barack Obama will leave for Afghanistansense usageone day, the U.S president will be a womanone day, Barack Obama will be a womancompositional semanticscompositional semantics- how the meaning of individual words are combined to create larger units of meaningprinciple of compositionality- meaning of a sentence is a function of the meanings of its parts. Sentence meaning = word meaning + how words are put together (syntax)idioms- not compositionalI let the cat out of the bagThat sweater costs an arm and a legMost sentences and phrases- compositionalThe rabid pink koala destroyed my cousin’s collection of antique socksI stuffed my apron full of cheese and frantically ran away from the dairy snatchersExample of compositional ruleAlbert snoresComposing the meaningReference of albert= the actual guyReference of snores= the set of snorersIt is true if Albert is a member of the set of snorersGeneral compositional rule for sentences- a sentence is true if the reference of the subject is a member of the set referred to by the predicateAdjective meaningsFurry goatComposing the meaningReference of furry= set of furry thingsReference of goat= set of goatsReference of furry goat= things that are in both sets (overlap)General compositional rule for A+NA+N refers to the intersection of the reference of the adjectives and the reference of the nounConjunctive meaningsGoats and furry thingsComposing the meaningReference of goats= set of goatsReference of furry things= set of furry thingsReference of goats and furry things= set 1 and set 2 combinedGeneral compositional rule for NP+ and+ NPNP1+ and+ NP2 refers to the union of the reference of NP1 and NP2Congratulations!You have learned a lot in one semesterPhonetics- physiology of speech productionPhonology- cognitive organization of soundsMorphology- internal structure of wordsSyntax- hierarchial structure of sentencesSemantics- literal meaning of words and sentencesLINGUIS 101 1st Edition Lecture 26 Semantics part 2 Meaning review Types of meanings - Pragmatics- speaker meaning - Literal + context of utterance - Semantics- literal meaning - Lexical semantics- literal meaning of lexical items (words and morphemes) - Compositional semantics- literal meaning of sentences and phrases  What is literal meaning?- Gottlob Frege (1848-1925) o Meaning equals reference: the entities in the real word described by the word/ phrase o Meaning equals sense: the internal content of the description, independent of actual things in the world  Reference - Reference of an expression is the actual thing in the word that is described o White house- refers to the actual building o Wisconsin- refers to the physical placeo Flower- refers to the set of things that are flowers - Problems with reference o Expressions which have sense but no reference  Fantasy words: unicorn, dragon Negative words: nobody is in the room  Function words : very, the, but, whyo Same reference, but different senses:  The number of dwarves in snow white These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute. The number of days in a week  Sense - Sense: mental representation of meaning. “concept” associated with an expression o “bachelor” – reference- set of all bachelors o sense- unmarried, male, human - many expressions have both reference and sense - problems with senseo proper names have only reference, no sense  “Oprah Winfrey” reference (the actual person), sense (none) o reference usage  tomorrow, the U.S president will leave for Afghanistan tomorrow, Barack Obama will leave for Afghanistan o sense usage  one day, the U.S president will be a woman  one day, Barack Obama will be a woman  compositional semantics - compositional semantics- how the meaning of individual words are combined to create larger units of meaning - principle of compositionality- meaning of a sentence is a function of the meanings of its parts. Sentence meaning = word meaning + how words are put together (syntax) - idioms- not compositional o I let the cat out of the bago That sweater costs an arm and a leg - Most sentences and phrases- compositional o The rabid pink koala destroyed my cousin’s collection of antique socks o I stuffed my apron full of cheese and frantically ran away fromthe dairy snatchers - Example of compositional rule o Albert snores Composing the meaning  Reference of albert= the actual guy  Reference of snores= the set of snorers  It is true if Albert is a member of the set of snorers General compositional rule for sentences- a sentence is true if the reference of the subject is a member of the set referred to by the predicate Adjective meanings - Furry goat o Composing the meaning  Reference of furry= set of furry things  Reference of goat= set of goats  Reference of furry goat= things that are in both sets (overlap) o General compositional rule for A+N A+N refers to the intersection of the reference of the adjectives and the reference of the noun  Conjunctive meanings - Goats and furry things o Composing the meaning  Reference of goats= set of goats  Reference of furry things= set of furry things  Reference of


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UW-Madison LINGUIS 101 - Semantics part 2

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