MEETING 1

INTRODUCTION
Introduction

• Semantics
• The study of meaning
• Meaning
• Speaker meaning – depends on the speaker’s intention
• Sentence meaning – depends on the meaning of the words in the sentence
 Semantics and Pragmatics
A similarity difficult distinction is between semantics and
pragmatics. These term denote related and complementary
fields of study, both concerning the transmission of meaning
through language. Drawing the line between the two fields is
difficult and controversial, but as a preliminary we can turn to an
early use of the term pragmatics in Charles Morris’s division of
semiotics:
syntax : the formal relation of signs to each other
semantics : the relations of signs to the objects to
which the signs are applicable
pragmatics : the relation of sign to interpreters, or
the study of the process of meaning
and its role of context
Semantics and Pragmatics-2

Narrowing signs to linguistic signs, this would give us a

view of pragmatics as the study of the speaker/hearer’s
interpretation of language, as suggested by Rudolph
Camap below:
If in an investigation explicit reference is made to the
speaker, or, to put it in more general terms, to the user of
a language, then we assign it to the field of pragmatics.
(whether in this case reference to designate is made or
not makes no difference for this classification.) If we
abstract from the user of the language and analyze only
the expressions and their designate, we are in the field
of semantics. And if, finally, we abstract from the
designate also and analyze language, consisting of three
parts mentioned, is called semiotics.
Semantics and Pragmatics-3
We might interpret this, rather crudely, as:
Meaning described in relation to speaker and hearers =
pragmatics
Meaning abstracted away from users = semantics

A speaker can utter the same sentence to a listener, e.g. The place
is closing, and mean to use it as a simple statement, or as a
warning to hurry and get the last purchase (if they’re in a
department store) or drink (if in a bar). It also could be an invitation
or command to leave. In fact we can imagine a whole series of
uses for this simple sentence, depending on the speaker’s wishes
and the situation the participants find themselves in. some
semanticists would claim that there is some element of meaning
common to all these uses and that this common, non-situation-
specific meaning is what semantics is concerned with..
Semantics and Pragmatics-4
On the other hand the range of uses a sentence can be put
to, depending on context, would be the object of study for
pragmatics.
Semantics is concerned with sentence meaning and
pragmatics with speaker meaning. Knowing the first is part of
semantic knowledge and working out the second is a task for
one’s pragmatic competence.
A semantics/pragmatics division enables semanticists to
concentrate on just the linguistic element in utterance
comprehension. Pragmatics would then the field which
studies how hearers fill out the semantic structure with
contextual information.
Semantic Approaches
1. Contextual Approach (Bloomfield)
S r s R
S/R : external S/R
s/r : verbal s/r

Jill is hungry. She sees an apple in a tree. She makes a

noise with her larynx, tongue, and lips. Jack vaults the
fence, climbs the tree, takes the apple, brings it to Jill,
and places it in her hand. Jill eats the apple.
Semantic Approaches-2
2. Mentalistic Approach (Ogden and Richards)
Reference

Symbol Referent
Symbol : word
Reference : concept

Between the symbol (word) and its referent in the world there is
mediation of concept in the human mind which is called reference.
E.g.: Bus (symbol) : inanimate, means of transportation, on land, large,
to carry people from one place to another (reference)