Title: Formal semantics : an introduction /
Authors: Cann, Ronnie.
Publisher: Cambridge University Press,
Year: 1993
Subjects: Semantics; Semantics (Philosophy)
Abstract: "This book provides a clear and accessible introduction to formal, and especially Montague, semantics within a linguistic framework. It presupposes no previous background in logic, but takes the student step-by-step from simple predicate/argument structures and their interpretation through to Montague's intensional logic. It covers all the major aspects, including set theory, propositional logic, type theory, lambda abstraction, traditional and generalised quantifiers, inference, tense and aspect, possible worlds semantics, and intensionality. Throughout the emphasis is on the use of logical tools for linguistic semantics, rather than on purely logical topics, and the introductory chapter situates formal semantics within the general framework of linguistic semantics. It assumes some basic knowledge of linguistics, but aims to be as non-technical as possible within a technical subject. Formal semantics will be welcomed by students of linguistics, artificial intelligence and cognitive science alike."--Jacket.
Contents: 1. Introduction. 1.1. Semantics and semantic theory. 1.2. Interpretation and representation. 1.3. Beyond truth-conditions. 1.4. A note on method. 1.5. Further reading -- 2. Predicates and Arguments. 2.1. Translating English into a logical language. 2.2. Interpreting L[subscript P]. 2.3. Further reading -- 3. Negation and Co-Ordination. 3.1. Compound sentences. 3.2. Complex formulae. 3.3. Interpretation. 3.4. Formal interpretation. 3.5. Further reading -- 4. Type Theory. 4.1. Verb phrases and other constituents. 4.2. A typed logical language. 4.3. More set theory. 4.4. Interpreting L[subscript type]. 4.5. Adverbs. 4.6. Further reading -- 5. The Lambda Operator. 5.1. The passive. 5.2. Introducing the lambda operator. 5.3. Generalising lambda expressions. 5.4. Reviewing co-ordination. 5.5. Further reading -- 6. Quantification. 6.1. The variety of noun phrases. 6.2. Introducing the logical quantifiers. 6.3. A compositional approach. 6.4. Proper names and definite descriptions. 6.5. Two problems.