(2) semantics and linguistics
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Semantics is viewed within linguistics as being at one end of the linguistic model, with phonetics at the other end and grammar in the middle. This view is plausible because semantics deals with meaning, phonetics deals with sounds, and grammar deals with structure. Unlike phonetics, semantics cannot be directly observed or empirically verified since the meaning of language cannot be identified independently of language itself. Linguistics aims to study generalizations rather than specific instances, and semantics must be concerned with the meaning of sentences as abstract linguistic objects rather than utterances by individuals.
(2) semantics and linguistics
- 3. Let us now try to place semantics within linguistics and see what that implies.
- 4. semantics is a component or level of linguistics of the same kind as phonetics or grammar..
- 6. Nearly all linguists have, explicitly or implicitly, accepted a linguistic model in which semantics is at one 'end' and phonetics at the other, with grammar somewhere in the middle (though not necessarily that there are just these three levels).
- 7. •Why is this view “model” plausible? Semantics Grammar Phonetics
- 9. For Communication, we needA Communication System Something to communicate Something to communicate with Language Message Signs or symbols
- 10. The Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure
- 12. De Saussure used the term SIGN to refer to the association of the signifier and the signified A problem with terminology
- 14. His more recent followers used SING for the signifier alone.
- 16. •There are so many communication systems. •They are much simpler then language.
- 18. animals communicate Gibbons have a set of calls to indicate •the discovery of food, •danger, •friendly interest, •desire for company, •establishing position
- 19. have a set of calls to indicate •the discovery of food, •danger, •friendly interest, •desire for company, •establish position
- 20. Language as a system of communication differs from other communication systems.
- 21. First, language does not always have a 'message’ • language is not simply a matter of providing factual information. (Inter-personal relations) (Social relashionships)
- 22. Secondly •Complexity of “signifiers; and the “signified” in language. • Complexity of the relation between them.
- 23. Thirdly • difficulty (impossibility), of specifying precisely what the message is.
- 24. Example •In the communication system of traffic wait “in English”
- 25. The message can be independently identified in terms of language
- 26. For language Meaning (the 'message') cannot be identified independently of language.
- 27. What is the meaning of Could you please pass the salt? Language can only be described in terms of language.
- 28. Language can only be described in terms of language.
- 29. Is semantics “scientific”? (1)A scientific study should be “empirical”.
- 30. (2) Linguistics is defended as: the 'scientific' study of language.
- 31. one essential requirement of a scientific study is that statements made within it must, in principle at least, be verifiable by observation.
- 32. This can easily be applied to “phonetics” we can observe what is happening.
- 33. •We can listen to a person speaking. Auditory phonetics
- 34. English vowels : 1. / i: / / i:/ 1. / i: / e.g. see spelling: ees------ee vee------e veeirec------ei ayqu------ay eas------ea ldief------ie Close, front ,spread narrow lips and long •We can describe the operations of the vocal organs Articulatory phonetics
- 35. We can measure precisely the physical characteristics of the sounds that are emitted.
- 37. there is, unfortunately, no similar, simple, way of dealing with semantics. BUT
- 38. Furthermore, if linguistics is scientific, it must be concerned not with specific instances, but with generalisations.
- 39. This point was made by two linguists: Ferdinand de SaussureAvram Noam Chomsky
- 40. • Made the distinction between Ferdinand de Saussure
- 41. • Made the distinction between: Noam Chomsky
- 42. PerformanceCompetence Unconscious knowledge of possible grammatical structures in an idealized speaker Actual production and comprehension of language in specific instances of language use
- 43. What are they all concerned about?
- 44. They are all concerned essentially to exclude what is purely individual and accidental (speaking or performance), and to insist that the proper study of linguistics is language or competence.
- 45. How does Palmer differ from de Saussure and Chomsky? For de Saussure and Chomsky: language or competence is some kind of idealised system without any clear empirical basis Palmer prefers to think in terms of generalisations
- 46. What does this mean? Let’s take the example of “phonetics” again.
- 47. The phonetician is not primarily concerned with • the particular sounds •that are made at a particular time • by a particular person.
- 48. What does a phonetician do? S/He studies the pronunciation of words. To do so, s/he (1) will listen to a number of individual utterances of the word, and (2) will make a generalised statement on the basis of these.
- 49. What happens at each time a person speaks is not usually of interest in itself; it is rather part of the evidence for the generalisations.
- 50. How does this relate to “semantics” The same must be true of semantics.
- 51. Recall Lewis Carroll once again (Through the Looking- Glass):
- 52. Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, 'When I use a word, it means what I choose it to mean - neither more nor less'.
- 53. Semantics is not normally concerned with the meaning any individual wishes to place on his words.
- 54. An individual's meaning is not part of the general study of semantics.
- 55. However, it is interesting or important for some purposes to see how and why an individual diverges from the normal pattern. For example: (1) Literature (2) Psychiatric stdies. (3) Etc
- 56. An important note What is the difference between: (1) a sentence and (2) an utterance?
- 57. This is my bag. Is this a sentence or an utterance?
- 58. The distinction is as follows An utterance is an event in time: Produced by someone. At some particular time.
- 59. A sentence is (1) An abstract entity that has no existence in time, but (2) It is part of the linguistic system of a language.
- 60. The distinction is related to Competence Performance and
- 61. Competence Sentences belong to Utterance belong to Performance
- 62. So; what is semantics concerned with? Semantics is not concerned with the meaning of utterances. It is concerned with the meaning of sentences
- 63. What does this imply? •Semantics cannot be studied without assuming a great deal about grammar and other aspects of the structure of language.