Semantics Presentation
‘LINGUISTIC SEMANTICS’
PREPARED AND PRESENTED
BY
AZMAT ARAA
TO
DR. IQBAL BUTT
4/2/15
1
SEMANTICS study of the MEANING OF THE ‘MEANING’
4/2/15
2
DEFINITION OF
SEMANTICS
Semantics is taken from the Greek word ‘Semantikos’ meaning sign.
The word ‘meaning’ can be defined in many ways, but the most pertinent definition to linguistics is :
“ Meaning is the function of signs in language.”
This understanding of meaning corresponds to
German philosopher Ludwig Wittgensteins’ definition:
“ The meaning of a word is its use in the language.”
(in other words, the role a word plays in the language).
4/2/15
3
ORIGIN OF
SEMANTICS
Meaning has interested philosophers for thousands of years. The
Greek philosophers were the first people known to have debated the nature of meaning. They held two opposing views on the subject. The Naturalist view , held by Plato and his followers, maintained that there was a direct association between a word and its meaning,and the words were only names for the objects.
4
WORD’S MEANING
The concept of a word’s meaning was first made explicit in Greek philosophy by
Aristotle.
Definitions have been particularly important for conceptual theories of meaning which traditionally assumed a close link between concepts and definitions: knowing the concept HORSE, for example, is simply the ability to use the word horse in a way that accords with or fits its definition.
5
DICTIONARY AND
MEANING
Since about the sixteenth century, dictionaries have played an extremely important role in the way we think about and use our own language.
6
linguistic sign theory of de
Saussure
signifier
____________________________ signified
linked by an associative bond
(sound image)
4/2/15
(concept)
7
OGDEN AND RICHARDS’
TRIANGLE
Ogden and Richards saw this relationship between words and concepts as a TRIANGLE.
Thought or Reference
Symbol
4/2/15
Referent
8
Where is the link? According to this theory there is no direct link between symbol
and
PREPARED AND PRESENTED
BY
AZMAT ARAA
TO
DR. IQBAL BUTT
4/2/15
1
SEMANTICS study of the MEANING OF THE ‘MEANING’
4/2/15
2
DEFINITION OF
SEMANTICS
Semantics is taken from the Greek word ‘Semantikos’ meaning sign.
The word ‘meaning’ can be defined in many ways, but the most pertinent definition to linguistics is :
“ Meaning is the function of signs in language.”
This understanding of meaning corresponds to
German philosopher Ludwig Wittgensteins’ definition:
“ The meaning of a word is its use in the language.”
(in other words, the role a word plays in the language).
4/2/15
3
ORIGIN OF
SEMANTICS
Meaning has interested philosophers for thousands of years. The
Greek philosophers were the first people known to have debated the nature of meaning. They held two opposing views on the subject. The Naturalist view , held by Plato and his followers, maintained that there was a direct association between a word and its meaning,and the words were only names for the objects.
4
WORD’S MEANING
The concept of a word’s meaning was first made explicit in Greek philosophy by
Aristotle.
Definitions have been particularly important for conceptual theories of meaning which traditionally assumed a close link between concepts and definitions: knowing the concept HORSE, for example, is simply the ability to use the word horse in a way that accords with or fits its definition.
5
DICTIONARY AND
MEANING
Since about the sixteenth century, dictionaries have played an extremely important role in the way we think about and use our own language.
6
linguistic sign theory of de
Saussure
signifier
____________________________ signified
linked by an associative bond
(sound image)
4/2/15
(concept)
7
OGDEN AND RICHARDS’
TRIANGLE
Ogden and Richards saw this relationship between words and concepts as a TRIANGLE.
Thought or Reference
Symbol
4/2/15
Referent
8
Where is the link? According to this theory there is no direct link between symbol
and