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OverviewHow direct is the mapping between linguistic constructions and their interpretations? Much less direct than we generally assume, according to this book. Extending current ideas from frameworks like Relevance Theory, pragmatic inference is shown to have a far greater role than it is normally afforded, making crucial contributions to semantic representations. This necessitates a radical new perspective in formal linguistics: we must isolate what is attributable to inference before we can even identify what the grammar should account for. Addressing fundamental assumptions of linguistic theory and tapping into significant new ideas in frameworks like Dynamic Syntax, this book outlines and illustrates an approach to grammar that addresses actual mechanisms of interpretation in context, instead of assuming a direct interface between static syntactic representations and semantics. Theoretical arguments are supported by detailed formal and informal linguistic analysis at a key meeting point of syntax, semantics and pragmatics: information structure. An in-depth case study of syntactic focus in Hungarian demonstrates how an unusually wide range of complex phenomena including quantificational and aspectual constructions and the syntax of negation can be accounted for by the linguistic encoding of radically underspecified semantic procedures plus rich pragmatic reasoning. Both in its clear argumentation for a radical new theoretical perspective and in its novel analysis of phenomena that have long held an important place in the literature, this book is relevant to all linguists, computational linguists and philosophers with an interest in the nature of syntax, semantics, pragmatics and information structure and the connections between them. Full Product DetailsAuthor: Daniel WedgwoodPublisher: HarperCollins Publishers Imprint: Brassey's (UK) Ltd Volume: 14 Dimensions: Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.90cm , Length: 23.50cm Weight: 0.673kg ISBN: 9780080445779ISBN 10: 0080445772 Pages: 328 Publication Date: 08 August 2005 Audience: Professional and scholarly , Professional & Vocational Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In Print  This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us. Table of ContentsLanguage and Meaning Relevance Theory and Implications for Linguistic Structure The Hungarian Data Focus and Grammar Focus and Quantifier Distribution Dynamic Structured Meanings: Predication and Information Structure Verbal Modifiers and Main Predication 'Aspectual Constructions' and Negation Summary and Conclusions Bibliography IndexReviewsWedgwood's book tackles two difficult tasks at once. It makes a radical contribution to debate about the basic form of linguistic theory and presents an impressively broad and deep example of specific linguistic analysis. This book will interest anyone concerned with the interrelations of structure and meaning in natural languages - whether on a philosophical level or via numerous concrete proposals on issues like the interaction of information structure with quantification and negation. Professor James R Hurford, University of Edinburgh, UK A novel and radical dynamic perspective on language, with Hungarian as a case study. Anyone interested in how the web of syntax and semantics fit together with properties of general reasoning should not miss out on this book. Professor Ruth Kempson, King's College London Author InformationTab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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