Enriched meanings in semantics and pragmatics

2020 ◽  
pp. 7-18
Author(s):  
Ash Asudeh ◽  
Gianluca Giorgolo
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
Conventional Implicatures

This chapter briefly introduces the notion of enriched meanings from a general, pretheoretical perspective, without reference to the apparatus used in subsequent chapters to capture the notion formally. The chapter begins by discussing the traditional distinction between semantics and pragmatics, in light of the distinction between truth-conditional and conventional aspects of meaning. It then introduces and defines enriched meanings. It finishes with a brief overview of the various phenomena whose analyses constitute the case studies in the second part of the book (conventional implicatures, substitution puzzles, and conjunction fallacies).

Epítetos e insultos de grupo en español: Sobre una ambigüedad y sus implicaciones sintáctico-semánticas

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 161-205
Author(s):  
Andrés Saab ◽  
Eleonora Orlando
Keyword(s):  
Analytic Philosophy ◽  
Syntactic Ambiguity ◽  
Structural Ambiguity ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
Expressive Content ◽  
Conventional Implicatures ◽  
Expressive Dimension ◽  
In Virtue Of ◽  
Proper Analysis ◽  
The Way

Abstract In this paper, we further elaborate on a syntactic ambiguity between slurs and epithets first noticed in Orlando, Eleonora & Andrés Saab. 2020b. A stereotype semantics for syntactically ambiguous slurs. Analytic Philosophy 61(2). 101–129. Here, we discuss in detail the large theoretical implications of such an ambiguity both for the proper analysis of binominal constructions in Spanish (e.g., el idiota de Juan) and for the way in which it is advisable to model the expressive content slurs and certain epithets (those deriving from slurs) have. As for the first aspect, we contend that mainstream approaches in terms of predicate inversion for binominal constructions cannot account for why slurs lose their predicative import when occurring as epithets in binominal environments. In consequence, we propose a new analysis for epithets both in simple occurrences and in binominal constructions. This analysis derives the above-mentioned ambiguity as a type of structural ambiguity, according to which certain slurs can occur in predicative and in non-predicative positions. When they occur as predicates, they have a mixed semantics (McCready, Eric. 2010. Varieties of conventional implicatures. Semantics & Pragmatics 3. 1–57) reflected both in the truth-conditional and the expressive dimensions, but when they occur as epithets, the truth-conditional dimension is lost and only the expressive content survives. As for the second aspect, we defend a stereotype semantics, according to which stereotypes are modeled as Kratzerian modal bases (i.e., set of propositions) in virtue of which stigmatizing theories of human groups are reflected in a parallel, expressive dimension of meaning. This way of modeling some kinds of expressive contents explains how different slurs and epithets manage to communicate different theories about particular human groups, which are the target of derogation.

Naming and Indexicality

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory Bochner
Keyword(s):  
Philosophy Of Language ◽  
Word Meaning ◽  
Context Dependency ◽  
Critical Survey ◽  
Advanced Students ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
History Of ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
Epistemic Constraints ◽  
Theories Of Meaning

How do words stand for things? Taking ideas from philosophical semantics and pragmatics, this book offers a unique, detailed, and critical survey of central debates concerning linguistic reference in the twentieth century. It then uses the survey to identify and argue for a novel version of current 'two-dimensional' theories of meaning, which generalise the context-dependency of indexical expressions. The survey highlights the history of tensions between semantic and epistemic constraints on plausible theories of word meaning, from analytic philosophy and modern truth-conditional semantics, to the Referentialist and Externalist revolutions in theories of meaning, to the more recent reconciliatory ambition of two-dimensionalists. It clearly introduces technical semantical notions, theses, and arguments, with easy-to-follow, step-by-step guides. Wide-ranging in its scope, yet offering an accessible route into literature that can seem complex and technical, this will be essential reading for advanced students, and academic researchers in semantics, pragmatics, and philosophy of language.

scholarly journals The semantics and pragmatics of Norwegian sentence-internal jo

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (01) ◽  
pp. 3-30
Author(s):  
Signe Rix Berthelin ◽  
Kaja Borthen
Keyword(s):  
Procedural Semantics ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
Empirical Investigations

AbstractThe paper proposes a refined analysis of the semantics and pragmatics of the Norwegian non-truth-conditional adverb jo ‘after all, of course’. According to the literature, jo indicates that the proposition is ‘given’ in some sense or other. Based on new empirical investigations, we argue that the Relevance-theoretic notion mutual manifestness (Sperber & Wilson 1986/1995, Blass 2000) accurately captures the givenness aspect of jo, and we demonstrate through authentic examples what it means for a proposition to be mutually manifest. In addition to mutual manifestness, jo signals that the proposition is a premise for deriving a conclusion. The conclusion often – but not always – opposes someone’s view. We argue that the frequent opposition interpretations are a consequence of the nature of the procedures encoded by jo. In addition to clarifying the semantic and pragmatic properties of jo, the paper sheds light on the Relevance-theoretic notion procedural semantics as well as illustrating its usefulness in the study of pragmatic particles.

scholarly journals The meanings of positive polarity minimizers in Japanese: a unified approach

2015 ◽  
pp. 599
Author(s):  
Osamu Sawada
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Lexical Item ◽  
Positive Polarity ◽  
Unified Approach ◽  
Expressive Meaning ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Pragmatic Motivation ◽  
Internal Variation

In Japanese there are multiple lexical items for positive polarity minimizers (hereinafter, minimizer PPIs), each of which can differ in meaning/use. For example, while sukoshi ‘lit. a bit/a little’ can only express a quantitative (amount) meaning, chotto ‘lit. a bit/a little’ can express either a quantitative meaning or an ‘expressive’ meaning (i.e. attenuation in degree of the force of a speech act). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the semantics and pragmatics of the Japanese minimizer PPIs chotto and sukoshi and to consider (i) the parallelism/non-parallelism between truth conditional scalar meanings and non-truth conditional scalar meanings, and (ii) what mechanism can explain the cross-linguistic and language internal variation between minimizer PPIs. As for the semantics/pragmatics of minimizers, I will argue that although the meanings of the amount and expressive minimizers are logically and dimensionally different (non-parallelism), they can systematically be captured by positing a single lexical item (parallelism). As for the language internal and cross-linguistic variations, it will be shown that there is a point of variation with respect to whether a particular degree morpheme allows a dimensional shift (i.e. an extension from a semantic scale to a pragmatic scale). Based on the above proposals, this paper will also investigate the pragmatic motivation behind the use of minimizers in an evaluative context.

scholarly journals The meanings of positive polarity minimizers in Japanese: a unified approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Sawada
Keyword(s):  
Speech Act ◽  
Lexical Item ◽  
Positive Polarity ◽  
Unified Approach ◽  
Expressive Meaning ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Pragmatic Motivation ◽  
Internal Variation

In Japanese there are multiple lexical items for positive polarity minimizers (hereinafter, minimizer PPIs), each of which can differ in meaning/use. For example, while sukoshi ‘lit. a bit/a little’ can only express a quantitative (amount) meaning, chotto ‘lit. a bit/a little’ can express either a quantitative meaning or an ‘expressive’ meaning (i.e. attenuation in degree of the force of a speech act). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the semantics and pragmatics of the Japanese minimizer PPIs chotto and sukoshi and to consider (i) the parallelism/non-parallelism between truth conditional scalar meanings and non-truth conditional scalar meanings, and (ii) what mechanism can explain the cross-linguistic and language internal variation between minimizer PPIs. As for the semantics/pragmatics of minimizers, I will argue that although the meanings of the amount and expressive minimizers are logically and dimensionally different (non-parallelism), they can systematically be captured by positing a single lexical item (parallelism). As for the language internal and cross-linguistic variations, it will be shown that there is a point of variation with respect to whether a particular degree morpheme allows a dimensional shift (i.e. an extension from a semantic scale to a pragmatic scale). Based on the above proposals, this paper will also investigate the pragmatic motivation behind the use of minimizers in an evaluative context.

The Grammar of Expressivity

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gutzmann
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Indirect Evidence ◽  
The Other ◽  
Semantic Interpretation ◽  
Expressive Function ◽  
Syntactic Feature ◽  
Syntactic Features ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Recent Developments

While the expressive function of natural language has received much attention in recent years, the role grammar plays in the interpretation of expressive items has mainly been neglected in the semantic and pragmatic literature. On the other hand, while there have been syntactic studies of some expressive phenomena they do not explicitly connect to recent developments in semantics. This book bridges this gap, showing that semantics and pragmatics alone cannot capture all grammatical particularities of expressive items and that expressivity has strong syntactic reflexes that interact with the semantic interpretation and account for the mismatches between the syntax and semantics of these phenomena. The main thesis he argues for—the hypothesis of expressive syntax—is that expressivity is a syntactic feature, on a par with other established syntactic features like tense or gender. Evidence for this claim is drawn from three detailed case studies of expressive phenomena: expressive adjectives, expressive intensifiers, and expressive vocatives. These expressions exhibit some puzzling properties and by developing an account of them employing minimalist approaches to syntactic features and agreement, the author shows that expressivity, as a syntactic feature, can partake in agreement operations, trigger movement, and syntactically be selected for. This not only provides indirect evidence for the hypothesis of expressive syntax and extends the usefulness of operations on syntactic features operation beyond their traditional domains, but also highlights the hidden role grammar may play for phenomena that are often considered to be solely semantic in nature.

scholarly journals The Significance of Linguistics in the Study of Philosophy

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60
Author(s):  
Istikomah Istikomah ◽  
Nurhayati Nurhayati
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Philosophy Of Language ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Language Philosophy ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Object Of Study ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Core Issues ◽  
Of Greece

Since the era of Greece and Rome in the 4-2 century BC, until this Postmodern one, language has been one of the most central and core issues of philosophical studies. Language and Philosophy both focus on issues related to structure and meaning in natural language, as discussed in the philosophy of language and other disciplines, among others; philosophical theories about meaning and truth, presuppositions, implicatures, speech acts, etc. This article discusses several case studies that illustrate the relationship between the philosophy of language through three branches of linguistics; syntax (Stanley, 2000), semantics (von Fintel, 2001), and pragmatics (Potts, 2005). The results of the study reveal a significance and interdependence between philosophy and language. Philosophy requires language as a means of communicating ideas and also as an object of study in philosophy. Meanwhile, language also badly needs philosophy as a means or method to analyze systematically to get solutions to solving linguistic problems.Keywords: linguistics, philosophy, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics 

On (in)definite articles: implicatures and (un)grammaticality prediction

1991 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 405-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Hawkins
Keyword(s):  
Natural Language ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Human Reasoning ◽  
Language Understanding ◽  
Everyday Language ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Conventional Implicatures ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Paul Grice

Since Paul Grice published ‘Logic and conversation’ in 1975, there have been a number of attempts to develop his programmatic remarks on conversational and conventional implicatures further (see Gazdar, 1979; Atlas & Levinson, 1981; Horn, 1985; Sperber & Wilson, 1986; and especially Levinson, 1983, and the references cited therein). The result has been a growing understanding of the relationship between semantics and pragmatics, and more generally of human reasoning in everyday language use. Many aspects of natural language understanding that were previously thought to be part of the conventional meaning of a given expression can now be shown to be the result of conversational inference. And with cancellability as the diagnostic test, a number of traditional problems in the study of meaning are yielding to more satisfactory analyses. Even more ambitiously, implicatures are penetrating into core areas of the syntax, as pragmatic theories of increasing subtlety are proposed for ‘grammatical’ phenomena such as Chomsky's (1981, 1982) binding principles (see Reinhart, 1983, and Levinson, 1987a, b, 1991).

scholarly journals Conventional implicatures of the 2019 Presidential Tribunal: implications for the Nigerian leadership, media and users

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 250-271
Author(s):  
Emmanuel Chukwudi Ugwu ◽  
Chukwuma Charles Motanya
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Political Parties ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Truth Conditions ◽  
Conventional Implicature ◽  
Know How ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Media ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
Conventional Implicatures

Conventional implicature deals with non-truth conditional content of the expression in any given situation. Nigerians went into the general election in the year 2019, which various positions were contested and so many conditions that took place. Political parties were at the helm of the affairs doing what they know how best to do, through manifestos, campaign, propaganda and so on. Later, there was outcome of the presidential tribunal, especially among the first and topmost two contenders in the election and actual implicature transpired in the judgement. The implication lies at what the majority sees as a rape of democracy and the court ruling. Language of affidavit became awash on the social media. So many non-truth conditions were generated on the media after the ruling. To ascertain this implicature, this study applied the qualitative research by using purposive sampling technique in gathering the data and its analysis. The study reveals the social vices in this situation against dwindling areas in our leadership and how it affects those using the language. Keywords: Conventional, Implicature, Language, Affidavit, leadership, Presidential, Social Media

Semantics and pragmatics in construction grammar

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benoît Leclercq
Keyword(s):  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Theoretical Discussion ◽  
Semantics And Pragmatics ◽  
Truth Conditional ◽  
The Difference

Abstract This squib provides a theoretical discussion on the use of the terms semantics and pragmatics in Construction Grammar. In the literature, the difference between semantics and pragmatics is often conceptualized either in terms of conventionality or in terms of truth-conditionality (Huang 2014, 299). It will be shown that, even though constructionists claim that there is no semantics–pragmatics distinction, both these underlying concepts are central to the study of constructions. Therefore, the aim is twofold. First, in keeping with Cappelle (2017), it will be argued that constructionists should make more explicit the distinction between the two types of (encoded) meaning. Second, it will be shown that constructionists need to be more terminologically consistent and agree on how to use the terms semantics and pragmatics. Following Depraetere (2019), I will argue that the terms semantics and pragmatics are most explanatory when defined in truth-conditional terms. In this way, finer-grained understanding of the meaning of constructions can be achieved.

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