Search results

1

Verb-particle constructions in Cognitive Linguistics perspective: Compositionality behind selected English phrasal verbs

100%

Jarosz I.

Linguistics Beyond and Within

|

2019

|

vol. 5

29-45

EN

The developments in Cognitive Linguistics have made it possible to uncover multiple meanings of composite structures to the effect that more and more scholars have become interested in the issue of semantic relations in verb-particle constructions. With only a handful of those focusing on both elements of such constructions, many of them have directed their research towards the study of particles exclusively. The current paper aims to advance the study on phrasal verbs by offering a new outlook on their compositional nature. In order to achieve a desired aim, the principle of partial compositionality is adopted here. Hence, apart from focusing on both the verb and the particle, the senses that go beyond those comprising the composite parts receive considerable attention in this study. The phrasal verbs singled out for the purpose of the analysis include: get and take with selected spatial-orientational particles.

2

Representing Concepts in Formal Ontologies: Compositionality vs. Typicality Effects

100%

Frixione M., Lieto A.

Logic and Logical Philosophy

|

2012

|

vol. 21

|

issue 4

391-414

EN

The problem of concept representation is relevant for many sub- fields of cognitive research, including psychology and philosophy, as well as artificial intelligence. In particular, in recent years it has received a great deal of attention within the field of knowledge representation, due to its relevance for both knowledge engineering as well as ontology-based tech- nologies. However, the notion of a concept itself turns out to be highly disputed and problematic. In our opinion, one of the causes of this state of affairs is that the notion of a concept is, to some extent, heterogeneous, and encompasses different cognitive phenomena. This results in a strain be- tween conflicting requirements, such as compositionality, on the one hand and the need to represent prototypical information on the other. In some ways artificial intelligence research shows traces of this situation. In this paper, we propose an analysis of this current state of affairs. Since it is our opinion that a mature methodology with which to approach knowledge representation and knowledge engineering should also take advantage of the empirical results of cognitive psychology concerning human abilities, we outline some proposals for concept representation in formal ontologies, which take into account suggestions from psychological research. Our basic assumption is that knowledge representation systems whose design takes into account evidence from experimental psychology (and which, therefore, are more similar to the human way of organizing and processing informa- tion) may therefore give better results in many applications (e.g. in the fields of information retrieval and semantic web).

3

Review of Paweł Grabarczyk’s "Directival Theory of Meaning: From Syntax and Pragmatics to Narrow Linguistic Content"

88%

Jamrozik A.

Studia Semiotyczne

|

2021

|

vol. 35

|

issue 1

107-118

EN

This paper is a review of Paweł Grabarczyk’s latest book, Directival Theory of Meaning: From Syntax and Pragmatics to Narrow Linguistic Content. I focus mostly on two concepts constitutive for the directival theory of meaning-that of linguistic trial and that of meaning directive. These two concepts, while ingeniously developed by Grabarczyk, are not free of problems and somewhat controversial assumptions. I start with describing the basis of Grabarczyk’s proposal, as well as of the historical background from which it originated. Then, I move on to the analysis of the notion of linguistic trial. After that I focus on the concept of meaning directive, criticising certain assumptions that come with it. The conclusion is that while Grabarczyk’s version of the directival theory of meaning is an interesting proposal, most of its shortcomings stem from the fact that for a theory that is supposed to work well on natural languages, too many examples pertain to artificial languages. Until an analysis of a natural language in the style of the directival theory of meaning is conducted, it is not possible to properly judge the value of this theory.

4

Self-reference and the divorce between meaning and truth

88%

Tsohatzidis L. S.

Logic and Logical Philosophy

|

2013

|

vol. 22

|

issue 4

445–452

EN

This paper argues that a certain type of self-referential sentence falsifies the widespread assumption that a declarative sentence’s meaning is identical to its truth condition. It then argues that this problem cannot be assimilated to certain other problems that the assumption in question is independently known to face.

5

Addendum to “Self-Reference and the Divorce Between Meaning and Truth”

88%

Tsohatzidis L. S.

Logic and Logical Philosophy

|

2014

|

vol. 23

|

issue 1

109–110

EN

This paper is an addendum to [Tsohatzidis, 2013]

6

Semantic Meaning and Content: The Intractability of Metaphor

75%

Kwesi R.

Studia Semiotyczne

|

2019

|

vol. 33

|

issue 1

PL

Davidson argues that metaphorical sentences express no propositional contents other than the explicit literal contents they express. He offers a causal account, on the one hand, as an explanation of the supposed additional content of a metaphor in terms of the effects metaphors have on hearers, and on the other hand, as a reason for the non-propositional nature of the “something more” that a metaphor is alleged to mean. Davidson’s account is meant to restrict the semantic notions of meaning, content, and truth, to literal sentences. I argue that the Davidsonian causal account does not satisfactorily account for metaphor’s figurativeness, speakers’ assertion and hearers’ uptake of metaphor, and our discursive practices of using metaphors in disagreements and argumentation. I offer a non-compositional analysis of a semantic account of metaphor within which one can make sense of the applicability of the notions of meaning and content to metaphor. This analysis shows that metaphorical sentences have meanings other than, and in addition to, their literal meanings and what speakers can use them to mean.

7

Analysability/Compositionality Parameter of Wordplay

75%

Żyśko K.

Roczniki Humanistyczne

|

2017

|

vol. 65

|

issue 11: Anglica

61-74

EN

We apply the notions of analysability and compositionality (as proposed by Langacker 1987; 1991; 2000a; 2000b; 2008) to the study of wordplay. Our claim is that some instances of such creative use of language require to “decompose” non-compositional units, i.e. render non-composite structures composite so that they can be thought of as being assembled from their components in accordance with regular compositional principles. This sort of decomposition allows for alternative composite arrangements (catalogue—cat-alogue, insects—in-sects, penguin—pen-guin, etc.) to emerge. It must be highlighted that the reader comprehends the conventional meaning in the first place and it is only then that the context of the usage-event forces a plausible re-interpretation. What is more, it appears that the notion of analysability can be also applied to wordplay based on idiomatic language (Gibbs 2010). It commonly involves some underlying conceptual metaphor and metonymy as its motivational force, hence this sort of language may be conceptualized on two planes, a virtual one and an actual one, where the profile shift between the two (when placed in the context suiting both planes) may foster wordplay. Finally, since the values of analysability/compositionality are of a gradable character, it is possible to establish the A/C hierarchy for wordplay, which starts with bigger chunks of language set in context, i.e. discourse units, and goes through sentence and phrasal units, down to compounds and blends etc. Consequently, it seems plausible to represent analysability/compositionality of wordplay as a similar sort of continuum.

PL

W niniejszej pracy zastosowano pojęcie analizowalności (analysability) oraz kompozycjonalności (compositionality) (Langacker 1987; 1991; 2000a; 2000b; 2008) do analizy mechanizmów gier słownych. Tego typu kreatywne użycie języka często wymaga swoistej „dekompozycji” jednostek leksykalnych standardowo uznawanych za niekompozycjonalne. Dekompozycja pozwala na alternatywną, semantyczną analizę danych jednostek (np. catalogue—cat-alogue, insects—in-sects, penguin—pen-guin). Owa analiza możliwa jest do zrealizowania wyłącznie w odpowiednim kontekście, który wymaga od użytkownika języka ponownej interpretacji tego, co konwencjonalne, oczekiwane, standardowe. Pojęcie analizowalności oraz kompozycjonalności może zostać zastosowane także w przypadku gier słownych opartych na użyciu idiomów (Gibbs 2010). U podstaw tego typu gier leży często zaskakujące przejście z płaszczyzny wirtualności (tego, co metaforyczne) do płaszczyzny rzeczywistości (tego, co dosłowne). Ponadto autorzy chcą wykazać, że wartości analizowalności oraz kompozycjonalności mają charakter stopniowalny, a nie absolutny. Oznacza to, że grom słownym można przypisać pewną hierarchię, tzn. można zestawić je, zaczynając od tych opartych na niskiej analizowalności i kompozycjonalności jednostek leksykalnych, a następnie stopniowo przejść do tych o coraz wyższej analizowalności i kompozycjonalności.

8

Self-organising Logic of Structures as a Basis for a Dependency-based Dynamic Semantics Model

75%

Piasecki M.

Cognitive Studies

|

2013

|

issue 13

EN

Self-organising Logic of Structures as a Basis for a Dependency-based Dynamic Semantics ModelWe present Self-organising Logic of Structures (SLS), a semantic representation language of high expressive power, which was designed for a fully compositional representation of discourse anaphora following the Dynamic Semantics paradigm. The application of SLS to the description of possible meanings of Polish multiple quantifier sentences is discussed. Special attention is paid to the phenomena of: cardinality dependency/independency of Noun Phrase quantifiers and variety of quantification. Semantic representation based on several formal operators is proposed. They can be combined in many different ways, if one takes a purely theoretical perspective. However, in the paper we show that this huge number is practically reduced in the language use and is governed by several constraints motivated by the analysis of Polish language data. The Hypothesis of Local Range of Cardinality Dependency is formulated as an alternative to representations based on quantifier rising technique. SLS provides a multi-layered language description of inter-linked representation of sever antification, reference, presupposition and anaphora.

9

Slovak students’ comprehension of English figurative idioms containing body parts

75%

Ciprianová E., Vrábelová M.

Topics in Linguistics

|

2015

|

vol. 15

|

issue 1

EN

Figurative idioms constitute a large proportion of multi-word expressions in everyday language. Contrary to the traditional view of idioms as non-compositional units, numerous studies in cognitive linguistics show that most idioms are not arbitrary but motivated by conceptual metaphors and metonymies that provide a link between literal and figurative meanings. Familiarity with particular source domains and conceptual mappings is regarded as a source of idiom transparency. In this article, we report on a study in which 85 Slovak students participated. Their task was to guess the meanings of English idioms containing three body parts: the eye, the hand and the heart. These body parts are not equally productive metaphorical source domains in English and Slovak. The research results which we present indicate that different prominence of the source domains in students’ mother tongue and the target language is one of the factors that influence idiom comprehension in a foreign language.

10

Formulaic Language in the Magnifying Glass. Setting Parameters on the Analyzability of Linguistic Structure

63%

Mandziuk J., Okuń-Jaśkowiak A., Głaz A., Kniaź-Hunek L., Bendrat A., Prażmo E., Terejko P., Szczypa P., Czemiel G., Antoszek E., Galant J., Komsta M., Frelik E., Waszkiewicz A., Oleszczuk A., Waszkiewicz A., Okuń-Jaśkowiak A.

New Horizons in English Studies

|

2018

|

issue 3

EN

Adopting the model of Cognitive Grammar as proposed and developed by Ronald Langacker (1987, 1991, 2008), the article applies three basic cognitive parameters on the continuum of linguistic structure: analyzability, compositionality, and institutionalization, to an analysis of proverbs and especially to new proverbial modifications. The aim of the study is twofold: first, by proposing a two-dimensional coordinate system, we seek to establish a correlation between analyzability and compositionality. Second, by adding a third parameter on linguistic structure, namely institutionalization, we develop a three-dimensional system which, we believe, can offer a fuller account of the grammar-lexicon continuum.

11

Przymiotniki 'maksymalny', 'minimalny' w systemie współczesnej polszczyzny

63%

Piotrowska A.

Linguistica Copernicana

|

2023

|

vol. 20

157-178

EN

The article focuses on the pair of antonymous adjectives maksymalny (maximal) and minimalny (minimal) and examines their position within the contemporary Polish language system through an analysis of their syntactic-semantic compositionality. It utilizes excerpts from the classifications by Krystyna Kallas and Jadwiga Wajszczuk to determine the characteristics attributed to these adjectives and the classes they may belong to. These adjectives can be regarded as lexical expressions of superlatives, with their meaning revolving around the concept of possibility – maksymalny denoting the ‘greatest among the achievable possibilities’ and minimalny denoting the ‘smallest among the achievable possibilities’.

PL

Artykuł skupia się na parze antonimicznych przymiotników o postaci maksymalny, minimalny oraz wskazaniu ich miejsca w systemie współczesnej polszczyzny, poprzez analizę ich łączliwości składniowo-semantycznej. Wykorzystuje do tego fragmenty klasyfikacji Krystyny Kallas i Jadwigi Wajszczuk i sprawdza, jakie cechy przysługują badanym jednostkom i do jakich klas mogą należeć. Przymiotniki te można traktować jako leksykalne wykładniki superlatywu, a ich znaczenie skupione jest wokół pojęcia możliwości – maksymalny ‘największy z możliwych do osiągnięcia’, minimalny – ‘najmniejszy z możliwych do osiągnięcia’.

12

On Language Adequacy

51%

Wybraniec-Skardowska U.

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

|

2015

|

vol. 40

|

issue 1

257-292

EN

The paper concentrates on the problem of adequate reflection of fragments of reality via expressions of language and inter-subjective knowledge about these fragments, called here, in brief, language adequacy. This problem is formulated in several aspects, the most general one being: the compatibility of the language syntax with its bi-level semantics: intensional and extensional. In this paper, various aspects of language adequacy find their logical explication on the ground of the formal-logical theory of syntax T of any categorial language L generated by the so-called classical categorial grammar, and also on the ground of its extension to the bi-level, intensional and ex- tensional semantic-pragmatic theory ST for L. In T, according to the token- type distinction of Ch. S. Peirce, L is characterized first as a language of wellformed expression-tokens (wfe-tokens) - material, concrete objects - and then as a language of wfe-types - abstract objects, classes of wfe-tokens. In ST the semantic-pragmatic notions of meaning and interpretation for wfe-types of L of intensional semantics and the notion of denotation of extensional seman- tics for wfe-types and constituents of knowledge are formalized. These notions allow formulating a postulate (an axiom of categorial adequacy) from which follow all the most important conditions of the language adequacy, including the above, and a structural one connected with three principles of compositionality.

13

Listy Gottloba Fregego. Uwagi o polskim wydaniu

51%

Bogucki K.

Folia Philosophica

|

2022

|

vol. 48

1-24

EN

The present article reviews the Polish-language edition of Gottlob Frege’s scientific correspondence. In the article, I discuss the material hitherto unpublished in Polish in relation to the remainder of Frege’s works. First of all, I inquire into the role and nature of definitions. Then, I consider Frege’s recognition criteria for sameness of thoughts. In the article’s third part, I study letters devoted to the principle of semantic compositionality, while in the fourth part I discuss Frege’s remarks concerning the context principle.

14

Some remarks on Roman Ingarden’s theory of meaning

38%

Maciaszek J., Maciaszek J.

Przegląd Filozoficzny. Nowa Seria

|

2020

|

issue 4

Refine search results

Verb-particle constructions in Cognitive Linguistics perspective: Compositionality behind selected English phrasal verbs

Representing Concepts in Formal Ontologies: Compositionality vs. Typicality Effects

Review of Paweł Grabarczyk’s "Directival Theory of Meaning: From Syntax and Pragmatics to Narrow Linguistic Content"

Self-reference and the divorce between meaning and truth

Addendum to “Self-Reference and the Divorce Between Meaning and Truth”

Semantic Meaning and Content: The Intractability of Metaphor

Analysability/Compositionality Parameter of Wordplay

Self-organising Logic of Structures as a Basis for a Dependency-based Dynamic Semantics Model

Slovak students’ comprehension of English figurative idioms containing body parts

Formulaic Language in the Magnifying Glass. Setting Parameters on the Analyzability of Linguistic Structure

Przymiotniki 'maksymalny', 'minimalny' w systemie współczesnej polszczyzny

On Language Adequacy

Listy Gottloba Fregego. Uwagi o polskim wydaniu

Some remarks on Roman Ingarden’s theory of meaning