Meeting 1
Semantics IG 0352
Semantics, sentence meaning,
speaker meaning
Metaphor
Learning outcome
– Students are able to explain the importance of
studying Semantics
– Students are able to give examples of
speaker’s meaning and sentence meaning
tik 1 introduction Hurford and
Heasley
outline
•
•
•
•
Semantics
The use of semantics
Sentence meaning
Speaker meaning
yule, 1992
3
Introduction
• Semantics
– The study of meaning
• Meaning
– Sentence meaning – depends on the meaning
of the words in the sentence
– Speaker meaning – depends on the speaker’s
intention
tik 1 introduction Hurford and
Heasley
Sentence meaning
The meaning of the sentence depends on
the meaning of the words.
• The boy is killing the girl.
• Killing  make the girl not alive not alive.
• ** This bag is killing me (discuss the
sentence meaning)
yule, 1992
5
Speaker meaning
• The meaning depends on the intention of
the speaker
• The boy is killing the girl.
• Killing  make the girl have the broken
heart
• This bag is killing me. 
yule, 1992
6
• The bag is very heavy
• Can you close the door?
• Speaker meaning: ___________
• Sentence meaning: ____________
A : Would you come to my party?
B : Sorry I have to study for the examination
• Speaker meaning : __________
Sentence meaning: __________
yule, 1992
7