Formal semantics
Subtitle: an introduction
By: Ronnie Cann.
Series: Cambridge textbooks in linguistics
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 1993
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York, NY, USA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 344
Subjects: Semantics.; Semantics (Philosophy)
Description: "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.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 333-338) and index.