Study of meaning

Study of meaning

1. For understanding the meaning of words we have to take into account two important aspects:

   • REFERENCE
     • Deals with
       • The relationships between part of a language and things outside the language (in the world)
         • which explains
           • A speaker indicates which things in the world are being talked about
             • expressions in language can have variable references
               • constant references
                 • i.e. moon
               • according to the circunstances
                 • take into account place, time, etc.
               • variable references
                 • i.e. your leaf ear
         • this relationship can be explained through the triangle of reference
           • It explains how words convey meaning
     • the relationship between sense and reference
       • the referent of an expression is ofent a thing in the world
         • according to this we can say:
           • Every expression that has a meaning have sense, but noy every expression has reference
       • the sense of an expression is not a thing at all; it is an abstractionthat can be entertained in the mind of language user.
     • Relation between reference and Utterance
       • the relation is not so direct
         • Both referring and uttering are acts performed by a particular speaker on particular occasions
   • SENSE
     • Deals with
       • The semantic realtionships of expressions inside the language
         • It is viewed in two ways
           • Sense of word in context
             • i.e. bank
           • Sense of longer expressions
             • Rupert took off his jacket Rupert took his jacket off
         • this relationship can be explained though the Circularity
           • likely- probable- pobably
             • it explains that there is no way of indicating meaning of other expressions except with other words
     • Relation between sense and proposition
       • they have a direct similarity beacuse
         • the same expression can be said in different languages and languages

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