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What is Meaning?: Fundamentals of Formal Semantics (Fundamentals of Linguistics)
 
 
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What is Meaning?: Fundamentals of Formal Semantics (Fundamentals of Linguistics) [Paperback]

Paul H. Portner (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Book Description

1405109181 978-1405109185 February 14, 2005
What is Meaning? Fundamentals of Formal Semantics is a concise introduction to the field of semantics as it is actually practiced. Through simple examples, pictures, and metaphors, Paul Portner presents the field’s key ideas about how language works.

  • Explains the fundamental ideas and some of the most significant results of modern semantic theory
  • Combines foundational discussion with simplified analyses of complex phenomena to provide readers with a sense of the fascination to be found in the details of the human language
  • Includes exercises and thought-provoking questions to facilitate learning

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Editorial Reviews

Review

“An excellent book for advanced undergraduates and beginning graduate students. Portner’s approachable, yet serious, presentation gives the reader a firm understanding of the breadth and depth of the science of natural language meaning.” Kai von Fintel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Book Description

What is Meaning? is a concise introduction to the field of semantics as it is actually practiced. The book explains the fundamental ideas and some of the most significant results of modern semantic theory in an intuitive, engaging manner without relying on formalization or getting bogged down in technical skills. Through simple examples, pictures, and metaphors, the author presents the field's key ideas about how language works. By combining foundational discussion with simplified analyses of complex phenomena, What is Meaning? provides readers with a sense of the fascination to be found in the details of human language.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 248 pages
  • Publisher: Blackwell (February 14, 2005)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1405109181
  • ISBN-13: 978-1405109185
  • Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific introduction, June 25, 2009
By 
RL "RL" (Bellingham, WA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: What is Meaning?: Fundamentals of Formal Semantics (Fundamentals of Linguistics) (Paperback)
Although all have their merits, out of the three introductory semantics texts I read, I would recommend this book to those who are curious or beginning to explore the subject. Portner's writing is exceptionally paced, and at times quite entertaining (relative to textbooks in general, not just those for formal semantics).

The thought exercises and line-art diagrams are well constructed and organized, and the discussions related to set theory and pragmatics were especially helpful.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Clearly wrritten but..., December 20, 2010
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This review is from: What is Meaning?: Fundamentals of Formal Semantics (Fundamentals of Linguistics) (Paperback)
Although Portner writes with a charming style and makes difficult problems of semantics clear, yet I feel he didn't answer the question printed on its cover. The different approaches to semantics, and their relation to the formal approach, still remain mystery to me. The lambda-abstraction was barely touched, and semantic calculus wasn't even mentioned.
I've enjoyed reading it, but I must say I'd rather have purchased a more comprehensive textbook.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
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First Sentence:
In ordinary life, we sometimes find ourselves talking about the meanings of words and sentences. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
unsaturated proposition, oriented semanticists, salient dog, formal semanticists, context change potential, variable assignment function, social practice theory, doubly unsaturated, definite noun phrases, aspectual class, tall bird, main predicate, structured meanings, situation semantics, thematic roles, dynamic semantics, regular property, generalized quantifiers, complete proposition, tense sentence, sage plant, formal semantics, intensional contexts, discourse referents, semantic meaning
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Context Set, New York, Empire State Building, Common Ground, Twin Earth, Professor Wong, True False Diagram, John Smith, Remembrance of Things Past, Donald Davidson
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