Meaning: Semantics, Pragmatics, Cognition

The book Meaning addresses the fundamental question of human language interaction: what it is to mean, and how we communicate our meanings to others. It provides balanced coverage of semantics and pragmatics, emphasizing their interactions, and discusses other fields of language study such as syntax, neurology, philosophy of language, and artificial intelligence. Comics and diagrams are used to engage the reader, and end-of-chapter quizzes, data-collection exercises, and opinion questions are employed along with more traditional exercises and discussion questions. The book features copious examples from real life and current events, as well as boxes describing linguistic issues in the news and interesting and accessible research on topics like swearing, politics, and animal communication. It is ideal for courses in linguistic meaning that focus on both semantics and pragmatics in equal parts, with special attention on philosophical questions, related subfields of linguistics, and interfaces among these various areas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 21 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Meaning delves into the core of human language interaction, exploring the profound question of what it means to communicate and how we convey our meanings to others. Authored by experienced textbook writer and esteemed researcher Betty J. Birner, this comprehensive text provides a balanced coverage of semantics and pragmatics, emphasizing their intricate interplay and discussing other fields of language study, such as syntax, neurology, philosophy of language, and artificial intelligence, in relation to their interfaces with linguistic meaning.

To engage the reader, comics and diagrams are strategically placed throughout the book, while end-of-chapter quizzes, data-collection exercises, and opinion questions are employed alongside traditional exercises and discussion questions. Additionally, the book features copious examples from real life and current events, accompanied by boxes that describe linguistic issues in the news and accessible research on topics like swearing, politics, and animal communication. By the end of this text, students will have acquired a deep understanding of semantics and pragmatics, as well as a broader perspective on how all these fields serve the fundamental purpose of human language: the communication of meaning.

Meaning is an exceptional textbook for courses that aim to provide a comprehensive exploration of both semantics and pragmatics, with a particular emphasis on philosophical questions, related subfields of linguistics, and their interconnections. Suitable for undergraduate and graduate-level courses in semantics, pragmatics, and general linguistics, this text is an indispensable resource for all students of linguistic meaning.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367028848