Chapter 10: Sentence Meaning

Question 1

Compositional meaning

Answer 1

The individual meaning of constructions.

Question 2

Meaning

Answer 2

The information that is inextricably linked to the forms of language; words or constructions.

Question 3

Semantics

Answer 3

The subfield of linguistics that is concerned with the study of meaning.

Question 4

Referents

Answer 4

The people or objects the noun phrases of a clause refer to.

Question 5

Reference

Answer 5

The relationship between the noun phrase and the person or object referred to.

Question 6

Specific reference

Answer 6

When speakers refer to a revert that is known or familiar to them.

Question 7

Non-specific reference

Answer 7

When a speaker refers to a referent that is not known to them.

Question 8

Definite reference

Answer 8

The referent is identifiable for the addressee according to the speaker.

Question 9

Indefinite referent

Answer 9

The referent is not identifiable for the addressee according to the speaker.

Question 10

Generic reference

Answer 10

A reference made to a species or category as a whole.

Question 11

Categorial reference

Answer 11

When a reference is made to one specific member of species or category

Question 12

Deixis

Answer 12

When words refer to entities that can be identified on the basis of a common frame of reference within the speech situation.

Question 13

Antecedent

Answer 13

A pronominal element that does not ‘point’ directly to a referent presented in the speech situation, but refers back to a constituent introduced earlier.

Question 14

Anaphoric

Answer 14

The reference to an antecedent.

Question 15

Situation

Answer 15

A collection of circumstances that is the case at a certain moment; verb phrases refer to something that involves the passage of time.

Question 16

Tense

Answer 16

This localizes the time of the situation described in the clause; the three tenses are past, present and future.

Question 17

Absolute tense

Answer 17

When tenses are interpreted in relation to the speech moment.

Question 18

Relative tense

Answer 18

When the point of reference in a moment in time is different from the moment of speaking.

Question 19

Aspect

Answer 19

This specifies the temporal perspective from which the speaker is presenting the situation.

Question 20

Perfective aspect

Answer 20

When the situation is presented as a finished and complete whole.

Question 21

Imperfective aspect

Answer 21

When the situation is presented as being in progress.

Question 22

Situation types

Answer 22

Different types of situations.

Question 23

Dynamic situations

Answer 23

Situations in which something changes.

Question 24

Static situations

Answer 24

Situations that do not develop and stay the same.

Question 25

Controlled situations

Answer 25

When one of the participants controls whether the situation can happen.

Question 26

Non-controlled situations

Answer 26

When the participants cannot control if the situation can happen.

Question 27

Lexical meaning

Answer 27

The individual meaning of words.