Situation semantics and its foundations
The aim of this thesis is to examine several aspects of situation semantics and to evaluate the contribution which the theory makes to our understanding of language, in particular whether it brings us nearer to a solution of some traditional puzzles with attitude reports. The presentation is in three parts. The first part, comprising chapters one and two, consists of a general introduction to the issues involved and tackles the question of where situation semantics places the boundary between semantics and pragmatics. The second and main part, chapters three to six, is devoted to demonstrating the language- dependent status of abstract situations. The interpretations of expressions and the role of the setting in composition are analysed in chapter three. In chapter four I consider Russell's views on propositions and the Russellian semantics Richards has given. Chapter five examines in detail the suggestion of chapter three that the level of abstract situations is not independent of language, recasts situation semantics accordingly as an interpreted language, and lastly considers an extension of situation semantics to include molecular facts. In chapter six situation semantics is related to direct reference
Blair, Ivan David
Linguistics
Situation semantics and its foundations. The aim of this thesis is to examine several aspects of situation semantics and to evaluate the contribution which the theory makes to our understanding of language, in particular whether it brings us nearer to a solution of some traditional puzzles with attitude reports. The presentation is in three parts. The first part, comprising chapters one and two, consists of a general introduction to the issues involved and tackles the question of where situation semantics places the boundary between semantics and pragmatics. The second and main part, chapters three to six, is devoted to demonstrating the language- dependent status of abstract situations. The interpretations of expressions and the role of the setting in composition are analysed in chapter three. In chapter four I consider Russell's views on propositions and the Russellian semantics Richards has given. Chapter five examines in detail the suggestion of chapter three that the level of abstract situations is not independent of language, recasts situation semantics accordingly as an interpreted language, and lastly considers an extension of situation semantics to include molecular facts. In chapter six situation semantics is related to direct reference
situation semantics foundation aim_examine several_aspect situation semantics evaluate theory make language particular whether brings near solution traditional puzzle attitude report presentation three_part first_part comprising consist general_introduction issue_involve tackle question situation semantics place boundary semantics_pragmatic second main_part devote demonstrate language dependent status abstract situation interpretation expression role set composition analyse consider russell view proposition russellian semantics give five_examines detail suggestion three_level abstract situation independent language recast situation semantics accordingly interpreted language lastly consider extension situation semantics include molecular fact situation semantics related direct_reference