Introduction to Semantics

Thomas Ede Zimmermann; Wolfgang Sternefeld

Published by De Gruyter Mouton 2013

Introduction to Semantics

An Essential Guide to the Composition of Meaning

Thomas Ede Zimmermann and Wolfgang Sternefeld

In the series Mouton Textbook

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110314373

Overview
Contents

About this book

This textbook helps undergraduate students of language and linguistics taking their first steps in one of the core areas of grammar, introducing them to the basic ideas, insights, and techniques of contemporary semantic theory. Requiring no special background knowledge, the book starts with everyday observations about word meaning and use and then hightlights the role of structure in the analysis of the meanings of phrases and clauses, zooming in on the fascinating and vexing question of how speakers manage to meaningfully communicate with sentences and texts they have never come across before. At the same time, the reader becomes acquainted with the modern, functionalist characterization of linguistic meaning in terms of reference (extension) and information (intension), and learns to apply technical tools from formal logic to analyzing the meaning of complex linguistic expressions as being composed by the meanings of their parts. Each of the nine main chapters contains a variety of exercises for self-study and classroom use, with model solutions in the appendix. Extensive English examples provide ample illustration.

A highly accessible introduction to an elementary subfield of linguistics
A must-have for all first year students of linguistics world-wide
Requires no previous knowledge of formal logic
Contains exercises plus an answer key perfect for self-study and classroom use
A rich selection of English examples and phenomena
Exceptional in its extensive treatment of compositional semantics

Author information

Thomas Ede Zimmermann, Goethe University Frankfurt; Wolfgang Sternefeld, University of Tübingen.

Supplementary Materials

Contents

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	v
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Chapter 1: Literal Meaning Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 2: Lexical Semantics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	12
Chapter 3: Structural Ambiguity Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	25
Chapter 4: Introducing Extensions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	58
Chapter 5: Composing Extensions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	83
Chapter 6: Quantifiers Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	115
Chapter 7: Propositions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	138
Chapter 8: Intensions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	170
Chapter 9: Presuppositions Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	205
Chapter 10: Compositional Variable Binding Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	232
Solutions to the Exercises Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	262
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	279
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	287

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
Audience: Undergraduate Students majoring in Linguistics or Foreign Languages world-wide
Pages
- Front matter: 10
- Main content: 291
Keywords: Semantics; Meaning; Compositionality

eBook

Published: May 28, 2013
ISBN: 9783110314373

Hardcover

Published: May 21, 2013
ISBN: 9783110308006