Introducing English SemanticsIntroducing English Semanticsis a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the study of meaning. Charles W. Kreidler presents the basic principles of this discipline. He explores how languages organize and express meanings through words, parts of words and sentences. Introducing English Semantics: * deals with relations of words to other words, and sentences to other sentences * illustrates the importance of 'tone of voice' and 'body language' in face-to-face exchanges, and the role of context in any communication * makes random comparisons of features in other languages * explores the knowledge speakers of a language must have in common to enable them to communicate * discusses the nature of language; the structure of discourse; the distinction between lexical and grammatical meaning * examines such relations as synonymy, antonymy, and hyponymy; ambiguity; implication; factivity; aspect; and modality Written in a clear, accessible style, Introducing English Semanticswill be an essential text for any student following an introductory course in semantics. Assuming no prior knowledge of linguistics, all technical terms are clearly defined in an accompanying glossary and active participation is encouraged through numerous exercises. |
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action activity addressee adjectives affected agent ambiguity animal answer antonyms appear arguments aspect associated beginning called cats causative Chapter chase clause combine communicate Compare consider contains context continued converse definite denotation depends derived determiners discussed distinction English entity equivalent event example exist fact fall four function gerund give goal grammatical human illustrated implication indicate infinitive instance intended interpretation kinds knowledge language leave letter lexemes lexical linguistic look meaning modal move names nature necessarily negative Note noun phrase object occur pairs particular past performance person possession possible PRACTICE predicates present probability produce proposition question recognize referring expression relation respectively role semantic sense sentence signs similar single situations speaker specific speech statement structure Suggested tell things true truth utterance various verb window words