Natural Language Semantics discusses fundamental concepts for linguistic semantics. This book combines theoretical explanations of several methods of inquiry with detailed semantic analysis and emphasises the philosophy that semantics is about meaning in human languages and that linguistic meaning is cognitively and functionally motivated.
About the Author
Keith Allan is Reader in Linguistics at Monash University, and is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities. He has taught in Britain, Kenya, Nigeria, and the United States. His research and publications focus mainly on aspects of meaning in language and his previous books are Linguistic Meaning (2 volumes, 1986) and Euphemism and Dysphemism: Language Used as Shield and Weapon (co-authored with Kate Burridge, 1991).
Features
Provides a detailed overview of semantics, including both its history and recent developments.
Examines and compares a range of semantic theories and methods of analysis.
Integrates semantics and pragmatics, formal and conceptual/typological semantics, as well as theory and practical problem solving.
Includes exercises to reinforce the text and test understanding.
