Semantics

Semantics

• One of the branches of linguistics.• Study of the meaning of words, phrases, and

sentences.• Words with meaning are typically the nouns,

verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

Meaning

• Conceptual• Associative

Conceptual MeaningCovers those basic, essential

components of meaning that are conveyed by the literal use of a word.

Ex:• Needle: Thin, sharp, steel instrument.

Associative MeaningHas a different associations and

connotations attached to a word and these associations may differ from one person to the next.

Ex:• Needle: Pain, illness, blood, drugs, thread,

knitting, or hard to find (especially on a haystack).

In a linguistic semantics we are more concerned with trying to analyze conceptual meaning than associative meaning.

Semantic Features

• The hamburger ate the boy.

• The table listens to the radio.

• The horse is riding the newspaper.

Syntax Structure:

• The hamburger ate the boy. NP V NP

• The table listens to the radio.NP V NP

• The horse is riding the newspaper. NP V NP

Semantic FeaturesTable horse boy man girl woman

animate - + + + + +

human - - + + + +

female - - - - + +

adult - + - + - +

Ex:• The __________ is reading the newspaper. N(+Human)

Semantic Roles

• Agent and theme• Instrument and experiencer• Location, source and goal

Agent and Theme

The entity that performs the actions technically known as the agent and the entity that is involved in or affected by the action is called the theme (or sometimes the ‘patient’.)

agents and themes are the most common semantic roles. Although agents are typically human, they can also be non-human entities that cause actions.

Ex of agents:

Human – The boyThe boy kicked the ball.

Natural force – The wind The wind blew the ball away. A machine - A car

A car ran over the ball.

A creature – The dog The dog caught the ball.

The theme is typically non - human, but can be human.

Ex: The dog chased the boy. Agent theme

In fact, the same physical entity can appear in two different semantic roles in a sentence.

Ex:The dog chased the boy. Agent theme

The boy cut himself. Agent theme

Instrument and Experiencer

If an agent uses another entity in order to perform an action, that other entity fills the role of instrument.

Ex:The boy cut the rope with an old razor. Agent instrument

He drew the picture with a crayon. Agent instrument

When a noun phrase is used to designate an entity as the person who has a feeling, perception or taste, it fills the semantic role of experiencer.

Ex:The boy feels sad.experiencer

Location, source and goal

Location - Where an entity is in the description of an event.Ex: on the table, in the room

Source - Where an entity moves from.Ex: from Chicago, from USA

Goal - Where the entity moves to.Ex: to New Orleans, to Philippines

Mary saw a fly on the wall.EXPERIENCER THEME LOCATION

She borrowed a magazine from George.AGENT THEME SOURCE

She squashed the bug with the magazine.AGENT THEME INSTRUMENT

She handed the magazine back to George.AGENT THEME GOAL

“Gee thanks,” said George. AGENT