Knowledge of Meaning An Introduction to

"Knowledge of Meaning" gives equal weight to philosophical, empirical, and formal discussions. It addresses not only the empirical issues of linguistic semantics but also its fundamental conceptual questions, including the relation of truth to meaning and the methodology of semantic theorizing. Numerous exercises are included in the book.

Richard K. Larson is Professor of Linguistics at Stony Brook University.

Gabriel M.A. Segal is Professor of Philosophy at King's College London.

Preface

xi

(4)

Acknowledgments

xv

1 The Nature of Semantic Theory

1

(24)

1.1 The Pretheoretical Domain of Semantics

1

(8)

1.2 Semantic Theory as a Theory of Linguistic Knowledge

9

(13)

1.3 The Place and Responsibilities of Semantic Theory

22

(3)

2 Knowledge of Meaning and Theories of Truth

25

(42)

2.1 T Theories

26

(6)

2.2 T Theories as Theories of Meaning

32

(10)

2.3 The Theoretical Domain of Semantics

42

(14)

2.4 The Reality of Semantic Knowledge

56

(6)

Theory and Exercises

62

(5)

3 Meaning and Structure

67

(48)

3.1 Notions of Structure

67

(9)

3.2 Constraints on Semantic Rules

76

(15)

3.3 Some Syntactic Theory

91

(14)

3.4 Concluding Methodological Remarks

105

(6)

Theory and Exercises

111

(4)

4 Verbs and Predication

115

(46)

4.1 The Structure and Interpretation of Elementary Clauses

115

(6)

4.2 The Semantics of Predicates and Predication

121

(11)

4.3 Alternatives to the PC+ Analysis of Predicates

132

(8)

4.4 Evaluating the Alternatives

140

(8)

Theory and Exercises

148

(13)

5 Proper Nouns and Reference

161

(36)

5.1 Proper Nouns in PC+

161

(4)

5.2 Descriptive Names

165

(6)

5.3 Problems for PC+^DN

171

(8)

5.4 Knowing the Axioms of a Semantic Theory

179

(14)

Theory and Exercises

193

(4)

6 Pronouns and Demonstratives

197

(30)

6.1 Introducing Contexts

197

(4)

6.2 Contexts, Sequences, and Indices

201

(6)

6.3 Conditionalized T Sentences

207

(3)

6.4 Complex Demonstratives

210

(5)

6.5 Indexical Pronouns and the Relation S

215

(3)

6.6 The Semantic Properties of Pronouns and Demonstratives

218

(3)

Theory and Exercises

221

(6)

7 Quantification

227

(42)

7.1 The Syntactic Form of Quantification

227

(5)

7.2 The Semantics of Quantification

232

(8)

7.3 The Theory PredC

240

(7)

7.4 Quantification and the LF Hypothesis

247

(7)

7.5 Variable-Binding Operators

254

(5)

Theory and Exercises

259

(10)

8 Quantifiers and Quantifier Properties

269

(50)

8.1 Noncompositionality in PredC

269

(3)

8.2 The Relational Analysis of Determiners

272

(3)

8.3 The Theory GQ

275

(6)

8.4 Quantifier Properties

281

(21)

8.5 What Is a Quantifier?

302

(8)

Theory and Exercises

310

(9)

9 Definite Descriptions

319

(42)

9.1 Definite Descriptions as Quantifiers

319

(15)

9.2 Definite Descriptions as Referring Terms

334

(8)

9.3 A Pragmatic Alternative

342

(9)

9.4 Proper NPs as Referential Definites

351

(4)

Theory and Exercises

355

(6)

10 Anaphora

361

(54)

10.1 Bound-Variable Anaphora

361

(8)

10.2 Argument Anaphora

369

(20)

10.3 Unbound Anaphora

389

(19)

Theory and Exercises

408

(7)

11 Clausal Complements and Attitude Reports

415

(50)

11.1 Clausal Complements and Truth Values

415

(3)

11.2 Words, Worlds, and Propositions

418

(19)

11.3 Interpreted Logical Forms

437

(9)

11.4 The Theory ILF

446

(8)

11.5 ILFs and Inference

454

(5)

Theory and Exercises

459

(6)

12 Events, States, and Times

465

(60)

12.1 Analyses of Adverbs

465

(6)

12.2 Davidson's Event Analysis

471

(7)

12.3 Thematic Roles

478

(11)

12.4 States

489

(16)

12.5 Times

505

(8)

Theory and Exercises

513

(12)

13 Meaning and Knowledge

525

(30)

13.1 Semantics and Linguistic Individualism

525

(4)

13.2 Semantics and Psychoindividualism

529

(13)

13.3 Tacit Knowledge

542

(13)

Notes

555

(36)

References

591

(20)

Author Index

611

(4)

Subject Index

615

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Knowledge of Meaning An Introduction to Semantic Theory

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials