Elements Of Formal Semantics: An Introduction To The Mathematical Theory Of Meaning In Natural Language (edinburgh Advanced Textbooks In Linguistics)

In formal semantics, a sentence's structure is treated as the essential ingredient in the creation of sentence meaning from individual word meaning. The approach synthesizes the scholarly traditions of logical language analysis with the exciting scientific findings of contemporary empirical linguistics. The study of formal semantic composition processes introduces new ways to understand language meaning, and in an accessible style, with ample examples and exercises, this volume reveals the beauty and elegance of the mathematical study of meaning. Designed as a quick yet thorough introduction to one of the most vibrant areas of research in modern linguistics today, this book is an essential companion for students and instructors of linguistics, logic, computational linguistics, Artificial Intelligence, and the philosophy of language. It also works as a quick introduction for general readers with advanced scientific backgrounds who hope to gain better access to the empirical study of "language meaning." A series which supports the study of core topics that form substantial and identifiable parts of Linguistics degree courses as taught in the later years of undergraduate study. Each volume provides an in-depth introduction to a particular linguistic subdiscipline, while also engaging with the research on the subject. In five short chapters, this introductory textbook introduces some of the most essential principles and techniques of formal semantics.