Representing events and discourse; comments on Hamm, Kamp and van Lambalgen

Tim Fernando

doi:10.1515/TL.2006.004

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Representing events and discourse; comments on Hamm, Kamp and van Lambalgen

Tim Fernando

Published/Copyright: September 15, 2006

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From the journal Theoretical Linguistics Volume 32 Issue 1

Abstract

In [HKL00] (henceforth HKL), Hamm, Kamp and van Lambalgen declare “there is no opposition between formal and cognitive semantics,” notwithstanding the realist/mentalist divide. That divide separates two sides Jackendoff has (in [Jac96], following Chomsky) labeled E(xternalized)-semantics, relating language to a reality independent of speakers, and I(nternalized)-semantics, revolving around mental representations and thought. Although formal semanticists have (following David Lewis) traditionally leaned towards E-semantics, it is reasonable to apply formal methods also to I-semantics. This point is made clear in HKL via two computational approaches to natural language semantics, Discourse Representation Theory (DRT, [KR93]) and the Event Calculus (EC) presented in [LH05]. In this short note, I wish to raise certain questions about EC that can be traced to the applicability of formal methods to E-semantics and I-semantics alike. These opposing orientations suggest different notions of time, event and representation.

Published Online: 2006-09-15

Published in Print: 2006-09-01

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https://doi.org/10.1515/TL.2006.004