Semantic Analysis: A Practical Introduction

Oxford Textbooks in Linguistics

by Cliff Goddard

Semantic Analysis is a lively and clearly written introduction to the study of meaning in language, and to the language-culture connection. Cliff Goddard covers essential background on traditional and contemporary issues and approaches, and then takes the reader through a series of case studies in descriptive semantics. He includes topics such as emotions, speech acts, colours, concrete objects, motion, causative verbs, and grammatical categories. The author draws on a rich range of material from a diversity of languages, including Arrernte, Ewe, Japanese, Malay, Polish, Spanish, and Yankunytjatjara. The main method used is reductive paraphrase in natural language, an approach which is rigorous yet accessible, and each chapter has a selection of interesting and often thought-provoking exercises to involve students in practical semantic analysis. This is the first real textbook on cross-cultural, cross-linguistic semantics. Series Information Series 0-19-961833-X (Cloth); 0-19-9618348 (Paper) Series Professor Keith Brown (Essex), Professor Eve V. Clark (Stanford), Professor Lesley Milroy (Michigan and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Dr Jim Miller (Edinburgh), Professor Geoffrey K. Pullum (UC Santa Cruz), and Professor Peter Roach (Reading) Series Oxford Textbooks in Linguistics is a new series of course textbooks for second and third-year undergraduate, and postgraduate university students. It is assumed that the student will have completed a first-year introductory course in general linguistics. The books will be suitable for students specializing in linguistics, or taking linguistics options as part of a languages, humanities, or social sciences degree. Other books in the series are Linguistic Reconstruction by Anthony Fox and Principles and Parameters by Peter Culicover.

Genres: Linguistics

428 pages, Hardcover

First published July 9, 1998

Reviews

[Rima Muryantina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished this semester, and I really love the semantics course! This book is well-written and well-organized for those who were just introduced to Natural Semantic Metalanguage Theory. I like how Cliff Goddard put the chapters according to the NSM templates: 'emotion, speech act, particles and interjection, motion verbs, semantics of grammar, etc.'

I also like the examples from various languages, introducing us to the meanings understood by different people from different backgrounds (not only forcing us to understand the Anglo point of view).

He also tried to introduce us to some other semantic theories in the earlier chapters of the book (even though they're not in details).

Overall, great book for those who love semantics!

[Brann Dies · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent introduction into NSM, awful if you are looking into formal semantics. i wanted to give it a 3.5 because defining spoon, while interesting, seems clumsy and annoying to read.