INTRODUCING ENGLISH SEMANTIC BY CHARLES W. KREIDLER

Linguistic semantics deals with the knowledge of a language that allows them to communicate with each other.

1. The systematic study of meaning

There are three disciplines that are responsible for the systematic study of “meaning”

Psychology

It's interested
in how the human mind
searches for meaning

Philosophy

It focus on
knowing how we
know meanings

Linguistics

Seek to understand
how language works

It's concerned with
identifying the significant
elements of languages.

Semantics is the systematic study of meaning.

Linguistic semantics is the study of how languages organize and express meanings.

2. The nature of language

Human language is a single system different from all types of communication that there may be.

Humans have the ability to talk about past experiences and future plans, which animals cannot do.

Human language is

Creative

Produces new expressions.

It is incredible to perceive how the human mind easily and frequently deals with what does not exist.

Example: A writer devises a fictional story with imaginary people doing imaginary things

It is natural for humans to have language.

how meanings are communicated through language are not natural.

3. Language and the individual

Humans learn their own language in which it grows up

Productive vocabulary in childhood

Childs acquire roles

Speaker

Hearer

Humans depend their abilities to communicate

Native language

Conscious

Explicit

Language

Creative

New communications

Produce

Understand

Grammar

Three parts
semantics branch

Phonology

Sounds are organized

Syntax

Form
phrases and sentences

Morphology

Word
formation works

4. Demonstrating semantic knowledge

No all words are defined

Contextual knowledge

Speaker’s knowledge of meanings

Knowledge of Words

Define words

Vocabulary

Pronunciation

Infinite number of utterances

Communication

Thoughts

Feelings

Intentions

Make known to others

Language skills

Recognize pronunciation

Use vocabulary

Understand sentences