新编简明英语语言学教程：Linguistics-2015-6-17-chapter_5_handout_and_exercises_for_the_students.docVIP

Chapter 5 Semantics 5.1 What is semantics? Semantics can be simply defined as the study of meaning. 5.2 Some views concerning the study of meaning 5.2.1 The naming theory Definition: The linguistic forms or symbols, in other words, the words used in a language are simply labels of the objects they stand for. Limitations: This theory seems applicable to nouns only, but verbs, adjectives, and adverbs are definitely not labels of objects. Within the category of nouns, there are nouns which denote things that do not exist in the real world at all. Also nouns that do not refer to physical objects. 5.2.2 The conceptualist view Definition: This view holds that there is no direct link between a linguistic for and what it refers to; rather, in the interpretation of meaning they are linked through the mediation of concepts in the mind. Semantic triangle (triangle of significance)—Ogden Richards THOUGHT/ REFERENCE SYMBOL/FORM ---------------------------------------------------------REFERENT SYMBOL/FORM: linguistic elements (words, phrases) REFERENT: the object in the world of experience THOUGHT/REFERENCE: concept The symbol or a word signifies “things” by virtue of the concept associated with the form of the word in the minds of the speaker of the language; and the concept looked at from this point of view is the meaning of the word. e.g. dog—directly associated with a certain concept in our mind, i.e., what a “dog’ is like. But it is not directly linked to that particular dog (the referent in this particular case) mentioned in the sentence e.g The dog over there looks unfriendly. Comments: Advantage: This theory avoids many of the problems the naming theory has encountered. It can apply to all the words. Limitation: For what is precisely the link between the symbol and the reference remains unclarified. 5.2.3 Contextualism Meaning should be studied in terms of situation, use, context—elements closely linked with language behaviour. The contextualist view of mean