Semantics

What Is Semantics?

Linguistics

Semantics

Meaning
What Is meaning?

I hate you.
Sentences or
utterances
Meaning
Deeds
 Words Apple

Phrases Red apple

Meaning in
semantics
Grammatical
Apples
words

I eat two red

Sentences
apples.
Three Levels of Meaning

Three levels of
meaning

Utterance
Expression Communicative
meaning=
meaning meaning
sentence meaning
 the meaning of a
I don’t need your
simple or
bicycle.
Expression complex
(the meaning of
meaning expression
the sentence
taken in
alone)
isolation.
 Content words N, V, Adj, and Adv

Words

Conjunctions, prepositions,
Function words articles, pronouns, and
auxiliaries

Expression meaning I don’t need your bicycle I

indicates reference to the
Speaker
speaker.

Your bicycle indicates that

Reference The technical
the bicycle referred to is
term for using an expression
addressee that of
for something
the addressee

don’t is an
indication of reference to
Time
the time present
• Corresponds to phrasal meaning
• I don't need your bicycle.
• Need and bicycle content words
• I, do, not, and your function words
Corresponds to phrasal meaning
I don’t need your bicycle.
Words Reference
Content function Speaker Addressee Time
Need I I Your bicycle present
bicycle Do
Not
your