Semantics 2.1-2.3 Flashcards
Productivity
we haven’t wrote-learned what all conceivable utterances, languages are productive in nature
We combine utterances to create new ones
Principle of compositionally
Meaning of complex expressions are determined by the meaning of the simpler expressions and how they combine
Lexical semantics
what info about lexical meaning do we store in our lexicon?
Compositional semantics
how do we predict the meaning of complex expressions
Linguistic meaning relates to
Mental constructs so linguistic meaning is part of implicit knowledge
Prototype effect
Given two examples of the same concept we find one that is more ‘prototypical’
Concepts are
relational, they are defined with relation to one another
So we reason with them
Hyperonym
Animal is a _ of dog
Hyponym
Dog is a _ of Animal
Nose is a _ of Dog
Meronym
The relation between the categories is transitive so…
they can be put into hierarchy
Lexical decomposition
breaking down complex concepts into simpler primitives
Inductive reasoning
A specific conclusion is obtained based on combining multiple premises
Inductive richness
Bird is inductively richer than Animal
cooperative speakers pick out
the most prototypical ‘dog’ unless otherwise specified
Using a proper name presupposes what?
That the hearer can identify the object picked out by that name
Before using common ground we have to
have beliefs about the hearers knowledge of the concept
Individuals have
properties
Predicate
Semantic category that denotes the property of being what it is
Mental models are what in nature?
recursive
Theory of mind
Sits at the centre of referring expressions and involves recognising others have beliefs
What is reference?
Understood as relation between a linguistic form and a real world object
Fictional objects have
intensions but no extensions
Extensions
shift with context
