Slices of meaning: Levels of analysis and the unity of understanding
-
Štefan Riegelnik
Abstract
Although there is little agreement about where the demarcation line between semantics and pragmatics lies, there is strong consensus that those who ignore or deny the distinction are on a wrong track. In this paper I do not want to provide a further suggestion on how to make the distinction. Instead, I want to raise a problem for any theory of language based on a distinction between semantics and pragmatics. I argue that the idea of decomposing an utterance into a semantic and a pragmatic part precludes an account of the unity an utterance exhibits. For this reason, I conclude that approaches towards a theory of language based on a distinction between semantics and pragmatics should be reconsidered.
Abstract
Although there is little agreement about where the demarcation line between semantics and pragmatics lies, there is strong consensus that those who ignore or deny the distinction are on a wrong track. In this paper I do not want to provide a further suggestion on how to make the distinction. Instead, I want to raise a problem for any theory of language based on a distinction between semantics and pragmatics. I argue that the idea of decomposing an utterance into a semantic and a pragmatic part precludes an account of the unity an utterance exhibits. For this reason, I conclude that approaches towards a theory of language based on a distinction between semantics and pragmatics should be reconsidered.
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
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
