John Benjamins Publishing Company
The role of context in interpreting implicit meaning aspects
Abstract
In this article, I argue that one source of information the interpretation process makes use of in determining the meaning of an utterance are conceptual frames which are evoked in the hearer by the expressions used in the utterance. The frames provide potential discourse referents in the form of thematic roles which may or may not get further specified in the course of interpreting an utterance or text. More generally, I want to suggest that the idea of conceptual frames being evoked during interpretation can be used to model (at least in part) a particular type of context, namely the background against which a given utterance is interpreted. This background allows the hearer to understand more than what is explicitly expressed.
Abstract
In this article, I argue that one source of information the interpretation process makes use of in determining the meaning of an utterance are conceptual frames which are evoked in the hearer by the expressions used in the utterance. The frames provide potential discourse referents in the form of thematic roles which may or may not get further specified in the course of interpreting an utterance or text. More generally, I want to suggest that the idea of conceptual frames being evoked during interpretation can be used to model (at least in part) a particular type of context, namely the background against which a given utterance is interpreted. This background allows the hearer to understand more than what is explicitly expressed.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Linguistic perspectives on context
- What is a context? 9
- Context in neurolinguistics 33
- Theorising context 55
- Context 81
- Contexts in interaction 105
- What’s non-linguistic visual context? 129
-
Part II.Case studies on context
- Emergent contexts 153
- The role of context in interpreting implicit meaning aspects 175
- Contextually enriched argument linking 199
- Modelling context within a constraint-based account of quantifier usage 229
- Subject and name index 251
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
-
Part I. Linguistic perspectives on context
- What is a context? 9
- Context in neurolinguistics 33
- Theorising context 55
- Context 81
- Contexts in interaction 105
- What’s non-linguistic visual context? 129
-
Part II.Case studies on context
- Emergent contexts 153
- The role of context in interpreting implicit meaning aspects 175
- Contextually enriched argument linking 199
- Modelling context within a constraint-based account of quantifier usage 229
- Subject and name index 251
