{"product_id":"what-is-meaning-isbn-9781405109185","title":"What is Meaning?","description":"\u003ci\u003eWhat is Meaning? Fundamentals of Formal Semantics\u003c\/i\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e   \u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003eExplains the fundamental ideas and some of the most significant results of modern semantic theory\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eCombines 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\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003eIncludes exercises and thought-provoking questions to facilitate learning\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e  \u003cp\u003eAcknowledgments x\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e1 The Fundamental Question 1\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.1 What is a Meaning? 3\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.2 Meanings are Out in the World 11\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.3 We should Think of the Meaning of Sentences in Terms of Truth-Conditions 12\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e2 Putting a Meaning Together from Pieces 28\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.1 Names Refer 29\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.2 Incomplete Propositions 30\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.3 Prediction is Saturation 31\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.4 Compositionality 33\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2.5 Syntax and Semantics 34\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e3 More about Predicates 40\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.1 Other Types of Predicates: Adjectives, Predicate Nominals 40\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.2 Transitive Verbs 44\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.3 Relative Clauses 45\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.4 Topicalization 48\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.5 Sub-atomic Semantics 49\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.6 Modeling Properties with Sets and Functions 54\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e4 Modifiers 61\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.1 Adjective + N Combination 61\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.2 More Issues with Adjectives 65\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.3 Relative Clauses as Modifier 68\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.4 Adverbs 69\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4.5 The Form of Meanings and their World-describing Content 74\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e5 Complexities of Referring Expressions 78\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.1 Definite NPs 78\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.2 Some Subtleties 80\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.3 A Bit about Indefinite NPs 83\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.4 Theories of Reference 84\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.5 Plurals and Mass Terms 95\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.6 Kinds 99\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5.7 Pronouns and Anaphora 102\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e6 Quantifiers 112\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.1 Generalized Quantifiers: Predicate of Predicates, or Sets of Sets 113\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.2 NP Conjunction 120\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.3 Negative Polarity Items 122\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6.4 Quantifiers in Object Position 127\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e7 Extensional vs. Intensional Contexts 132\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e8 Tense, Aspect, and Modality 137\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.1 Tense 138\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.2 Aspect 146\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e8.3 Modality 154\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e9 Propositional Attitudes 161\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.1 A Possible Worlds Semantics for Belief and Desire 162\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.2 Logical Consequences of the Modal Analysis of Propositional Attitude Verbs 164\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.3 Two foundational Problems: Coreferential Terms and Logical Truths 166\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.4 Structure and Meaning 170\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e9.5 Or, Have We Reached the Limits of Semantics? 174\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e10 The Pragmatics of What’s Given 176\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.1 Indexicality and Deixis 177\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.2 Presupposition 178\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.3 Speech Acts 190\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e10.4 Focus and Topic 195\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e11 The Pragmatics of Inference 199\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.1 Properties Implicature 203\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e12 Formal Semantics Today 206\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.1 Diversity within Formal Semantics 206\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.2 Relationships with Other Varieties of Semantics 213\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.3 Relationships with Other Fields 214\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAppendix: Answers to Selected Exercises 218\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eReferences 223\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndex 230\u003c\/p\u003e “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.” \u003ci\u003eKai von Fintel, Massachusetts Institute of Technology\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cb\u003ePaul H. Portner\u003c\/b\u003e is Associate Professor of Linguistics and Director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science at Georgetown University. He is co-editor of \u003ci\u003eFormal Semantics: The Essential Readings\u003c\/i\u003e (with Barbara H. Partee, Blackwell, 2002) as well as the author of numerous articles on topics such as mood and modality, tense and aspect, and the syntax\/semantics interface.  \u003cb\u003eWhat is Meaning?\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cb\u003eFundamentals of Formal Semantics\u003c\/b\u003e 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, Paul Portner presents the field’s key ideas about how language works. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cp\u003eBy combining foundational discussion with simplified analyses of complex phenomena, \u003ci\u003eWhat is Meaning?\u003c\/i\u003e provides readers with a sense of the fascination to be found in the details of human language.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Wiley-Blackwell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47990478668005,"sku":"NP9781405109185","price":40.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781405109185.jpg?v=1761787987","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/what-is-meaning-isbn-9781405109185","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}