How to get lost in context: Searle on context, content and literal meaning
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Silvan Imhof
Abstract
Despite being a pragmatic theory of language, Searle’s theory of speech acts is methodologically based on semantic analysis. The properties of speech acts are supposed to be examined by analysing sentences whose literal utterance is sufficient to constitute a specific speech act by virtue of their semantic meaning. Searle’s method thus presupposes the concept of fixable, constant semantic content. Searle also advocates a very radical hypothesis about the dependence of the meaning of a speech act on the mental context of a speaker. The aim of the paper is to show that there is a serious clash between the methodological presupposition of constant semantic content and the thesis of the pervading influence of context on speech act meaning. In fact, if one takes up a contextualist stance as radical as Searle’s, semantic content cannot be taken as fixable and constant. Therefore, the preferred method of semantic analysis is by no means available.
Abstract
Despite being a pragmatic theory of language, Searle’s theory of speech acts is methodologically based on semantic analysis. The properties of speech acts are supposed to be examined by analysing sentences whose literal utterance is sufficient to constitute a specific speech act by virtue of their semantic meaning. Searle’s method thus presupposes the concept of fixable, constant semantic content. Searle also advocates a very radical hypothesis about the dependence of the meaning of a speech act on the mental context of a speaker. The aim of the paper is to show that there is a serious clash between the methodological presupposition of constant semantic content and the thesis of the pervading influence of context on speech act meaning. In fact, if one takes up a contextualist stance as radical as Searle’s, semantic content cannot be taken as fixable and constant. Therefore, the preferred method of semantic analysis is by no means available.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- Introduction 1
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Part 1: The contextual turn and the case for reference, truth-conditions and meaning
- Open texture and schematicity as arguments for non-referential semantics 13
- Full but not saturated: The myth of mandatory primary pragmatic processes 31
- How to get lost in context: Searle on context, content and literal meaning 51
- Meaning and interpretation 75
- The role of context in semantics: A Relevance Theory perspective 91
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Part 2: The contextual turn and the case for language use
- Boo semantics: Radical nonfactualism and non truth-conditional meaning 117
- Metaphor and mercurial content 141
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Part 3: The contextual turn and the case of analysis
- Context, two-dimensional semantics and conceptual analysis 171
- The use of the Binding Argument in the debate about location 191
- Slices of meaning: Levels of analysis and the unity of understanding 213
- Contributors 227
- Index 229
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter i
- Contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Part 1: The contextual turn and the case for reference, truth-conditions and meaning
- Open texture and schematicity as arguments for non-referential semantics 13
- Full but not saturated: The myth of mandatory primary pragmatic processes 31
- How to get lost in context: Searle on context, content and literal meaning 51
- Meaning and interpretation 75
- The role of context in semantics: A Relevance Theory perspective 91
-
Part 2: The contextual turn and the case for language use
- Boo semantics: Radical nonfactualism and non truth-conditional meaning 117
- Metaphor and mercurial content 141
-
Part 3: The contextual turn and the case of analysis
- Context, two-dimensional semantics and conceptual analysis 171
- The use of the Binding Argument in the debate about location 191
- Slices of meaning: Levels of analysis and the unity of understanding 213
- Contributors 227
- Index 229
