Analyzing meaning: An introduction to semantics and pragmatics. Second corrected and slightly revised edition. (Textbooks in Language Sciences) - Softcover

Kroeger, Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 396110137X ISBN 13: 9783961101375

Publisher: Freie Universität Berlin, 2019

Synopsis

This book provides an introduction to the study of meaning in human language, from a linguistic perspective. It covers a fairly broad range of topics, including lexical semantics, compositional semantics, and pragmatics. The chapters are organized into six units: (1) Foundational concepts; (2) Word meanings; (3) Implicature (including indirect speech acts); (4) Compositional semantics; (5) Modals, conditionals, and causation; (6) Tense & aspect.Most of the chapters include exercises which can be used for class discussion and/or homework assignments, and each chapter contains references for additional reading on the topics covered.As the title indicates, this book is truly an INTRODUCTION: it provides a solid foundation which will prepare students to take more advanced and specialized courses in semantics and/or pragmatics. It is also intended as a reference for fieldworkers doing primary research on under-documented languages, to help them write grammatical descriptions that deal carefully and clearly with semantic issues. The approach adopted here is largely descriptive and non-formal (or, in some places, semi-formal), although some basic logical notation is introduced. The book is written at level which should be appropriate for advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate students. It presupposes some previous coursework in linguistics, but does not presuppose any background in formal logic or set theory.

Edition details

• Publisher: Freie Universität Berlin
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 396110137X
• ISBN 13: 9783961101375
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 498