Semantics (Introducing Linguistics, 2)

A Kandinsky abstract seems appropriate on the cover of a text introducing modern semantics, as it interfaces with its mother discipline of linguistics, and the fields of psychology and philosophy (regarding meaning, thought, and reality). Saaed (U. of Dublin) frames topics in the description of word and sentence meaning (e.g. context, inference, and speech as action). He further reviews the three major theoretical approaches to semantics: componential theory, formal, and cognitive semantics. Exercises, suggestions for further reading, and a list of abbreviations and symbols should be useful to students. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.