Pragmatics and the Flexibility of Word Meaning

Pragmatics and the Flexibility of Word Meaning
Author: Eniko Nemeth
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 341
Release: 2022-02-22
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0585474265

Recently, the investigation of word meaning in utterances has connected two different fields: lexical semantics and pragmatics. A new linguistic discipline, namely lexical pragmatics, is emerging. The eleven papers of the present book constitute a unit in the sense that they have a common aim: to explore the interaction between lexical semantics and pragmatics. The authors examine phenomena such as productive sense extension, regular polysemy, multifunctionality, implicit arguments and predicates, and non-typical anaphoric pronouns, on the basis of linguistic data, for instance, from English, Norwegian, Russian, and Hungarian, as well as using a great variety of frameworks (optimality framework, two-level semantics, the theory of generative lexicon, cognitive grammar, Gricean theory, and relevance theory.

The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Semantics and Pragmatics

The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Semantics and Pragmatics
Author: Chris Cummins
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 1125
Release: 2019-03-19
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0192509551

This handbook is the first to explore the growing field of experimental semantics and pragmatics. In the past 20 years, experimental data has become a major source of evidence for building theories of language meaning and use, encompassing a wide range of topics and methods. Following an introduction from the editors, the chapters in this volume offer an up-to-date account of research in the field spanning 31 different topics, including scalar implicatures, presuppositions, counterfactuals, quantification, metaphor, prosody, and politeness, as well as exploring how and why a particular experimental method is suitable for addressing a given theoretical debate. The volume's forward-looking approach also seeks to actively identify questions and methods that could be fruitfully combined in future experimental research. Written in a clear and accessible style, this handbook will appeal to students and scholars from advanced undergraduate level upwards in a range of fields, including semantics and pragmatics, philosophy of language, psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, cognitive science, and neuroscience.

Relevance, Pragmatics and Interpretation

Relevance, Pragmatics and Interpretation
Author: Kate Scott
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 327
Release: 2019-07-18
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1108418635

Showcases recent research by leading scholars working within the relevance-theoretic pragmatics framework.

Procedural Meaning

Procedural Meaning
Author: María Victoria Escandell Vidal
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 460
Release: 2011
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 0857240935

This is a collection of edited papers which were presented at the international conference 'Procedural Meaning'. It is suitable for those who are interested in or already working on procedural meaning from different points of view and to identify various challenges that can determine the directions for research.

Paul’s Language of Ζῆλος

Paul’s Language of Ζῆλος
Author: Benjamin J. Lappenga
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2015-09-29
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 900430245X

In Paul’s Language of Ζῆλος, Benjamin Lappenga harnesses linguistic insights recently formulated within the framework of relevance theory to argue that within the letters of Paul (specifically Galatians, 1-2 Corinthians, and Romans), the ζῆλος word group is monosemic. Linking the responsible treatment of lexemes in the interpretive process with new insight into Paul’s rhetorical and theological task, Lappenga demonstrates that the mental encyclopedia activated by the term ζῆλος is 'shaped' within Paul’s discourse and thus transforms the meaning of ζῆλος for attentive ('model') readers. Such identity-forming strategies promote a series of practices that may be grouped under the rubric of 'rightly-directed ζῆλος'; specifically, emulation of 'weak' people and things, eager pursuit of community-building gifts, and the avoidance of jealous rivalry.

From Words to Discourse

From Words to Discourse
Author: Javier Gutiérrez-Rexach
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 366
Release: 2022-02-22
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0585475296

An area of linguistic research can be considered mature when the validity of theoretical and empirical results is tested cross-linguistically and when predictions from different languages influence and modify the course of theoretical development. The semantics/pragmatics interface poses a special challenge in this respect because of its interdisciplinary and multi-theoretical nature. This volume attempts to bridge the gap between theory and empirical analysis by focussing on several aspects of the semantics and the pragmatics of Spanish from a variety of theoretical points of view. Some of the papers were selected from those presented at the International Conference "Semantics and Pragmatics of Spanish" (Ohio State University, 1999). Others are invited contributions from leading scholars in the field. Among the topics covered are several that have been the subject of intense debate, whereas others represent subtle data patterns not considered so far. The topics include the proper characterization of tense and aspect, the subjunctive, verbal periphrases, stage/individual level predication, the interpretation of infinitives in embedded and adjunct clauses, the subjunctive mood, demonstratives, quantification of excess, exception phrases, binding phenomena, propositional negative polarity items, particles of politeness, and pronominal doubling. Overall, the analysis of these subjects contributes new findings to prominent theories in the field, such as possible world semantics, relevance theory, mental spaces, type coercion, generalized quantifier theory, dynamic semantics, and the theory of logical form.

Defining Pragmatics

Defining Pragmatics
Author: Mira Ariel
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 349
Release: 2010-06-24
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0521517834

This groundbreaking book challenges the prominent definitions of pragmatics and the assumption that specific topics belong on the pragmatics turf.

Relevance-Theoretic Lexical Pragmatics

Relevance-Theoretic Lexical Pragmatics
Author: Ewa Wałaszewska
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
Total Pages: 230
Release: 2015-10-28
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 1443885568

This volume is one of the first books to present a comprehensive view of lexical pragmatics, describing its origins, assumptions, scope, methodology and the various approaches to it, focusing specifically on the approach offered by relevance theory. In addition to theoretical considerations, the book discusses particular linguistic expressions and pragmatic phenomena, showing how the relevance-theoretic tools may be used to explore pragmatically motivated changes to lexically encoded meanings. The most recent developments are discussed and questions are asked to indicate directions for further research within this rapidly developing field.

The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Semantics and Pragmatics

The Oxford Handbook of Experimental Semantics and Pragmatics
Author: Chris Cummins
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 687
Release: 2019-03-19
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 0192509543

This handbook is the first to explore the growing field of experimental semantics and pragmatics. In the past 20 years, experimental data has become a major source of evidence for building theories of language meaning and use, encompassing a wide range of topics and methods. Following an introduction from the editors, the chapters in this volume offer an up-to-date account of research in the field spanning 31 different topics, including scalar implicatures, presuppositions, counterfactuals, quantification, metaphor, prosody, and politeness, as well as exploring how and why a particular experimental method is suitable for addressing a given theoretical debate. The volume's forward-looking approach also seeks to actively identify questions and methods that could be fruitfully combined in future experimental research. Written in a clear and accessible style, this handbook will appeal to students and scholars from advanced undergraduate level upwards in a range of fields, including semantics and pragmatics, philosophy of language, psycholinguistics, computational linguistics, cognitive science, and neuroscience.

The Role of Data at the Semantics-pragmatics Interface

The Role of Data at the Semantics-pragmatics Interface
Author: Enikő Németh T.
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
Total Pages: 437
Release: 2010
Genre: Computers
ISBN: 3110240262

Mouton Series in Pragmatics (MSP) is a timely response to the growing demand for innovative and authoritative monographs and edited volumes from all angles of pragmatics. Recent theoretical work on the semantics/pragmatics interface, applications of evolutionary biology to the study of language, and empirical work within cognitive and developmental psychology and intercultural communication has directed attention to issues that warrant reexamination, as well as revision of some of the central tenets and claims of the field of pragmatics. The series welcomes proposals that reflect this endeavour and exploration within the discipline and neighboring fields such as language philosophy, communication, information science, sociolinguistics, second language acquisition and cognitive science. MSP will provide a forum for authors who represent different subfields of pragmatics including the linguistic, cognitive, social, and intercultural paradigms, and have important and intriguing ideas and research findings to share with scholars who are interested in linguistics in general and pragmatics in particular.