Synopsis
This is a general introduction to semantics for readers new to the subject. The book is designed to be accessible to undergraduate students of language and linguistics, as well as the general reader. The aim of the book is to introduce some of the central areas of investigation in the field, and to enable the reader to proceed into the more specialized and technical literature. The book is organized into three parts: the first is concerned with the place of semantics within linguistics and its relationship to other disciplines, such as philosophy and psychology, which share some of the same interests. Part two is the main part of the book, and introduces central topics in the description of word and sentence meaning. Part three reviews three important current theoretical approaches to semantics. Each chapter contains exercises to familiarize the reader with the practice of semantic description.
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Review
This book is an invaluable resource for students and instructors. It offers impressively broad coverage of semantic theory, and it strikes an ideal balance between theoretical developments and empirical investigation.
Christopher Potts, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
This lively and engaging book provides an excellent introduction to current linguistic semantics.
Its coverage is comprehensive, taking readers from foundational concepts, through descriptive techniques, to theoretical approaches to the subject. The use of languages other than English to exemplify the discussion is particularly refreshing, and this revised edition will continue to provide teachers with a clear and easy to use textbook, and students with a solid foundation in semantics.
Ronnie Cann, Edinburgh University
From the Back Cover
This book provides an engaging and accessible introduction to semantics for students new to the field. It covers basic concepts and methods and discusses some of the most important contemporary lines of research. The third edition has been completely revised and updated, and now includes:
- New sections on classifiers and noun classes, as well as conceptual integration
- An extended discussion of theory
- Additional examples throughout in order to familiarize the student with the practice of semantic description
- Increased numbers of chapter exercises, now with solutions to selected exercises
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