Abstracting over semantic theories
The topic of this thesis is abstraction over theories of formal semantics for natural language. It is motivated by the belief that a metatheoretical perspective can contribute both to a better theoretical understanding of semantic theories, and to improved practical mechanisms for developing theories of semantics and combining them with theories of syntax. The argument for a new way to understand semantic theories rest spartly on the present difficulty of accurately comparing and clasifying theories, aswell as on the desire to easily combine theories that concentrate on different areas of semantics. There is a strong case for encouraging more modularity in the structure of semantic theories, to promote a division of labour, and potentially the development of reusable semantic modules. A more abstract approach to the syntax-semantics interface holds out the hope of further benefits, notably a degree of guaranteed semantic coherence via typesor constraints. Two case studies of semantic abstraction are presented. First,alternative characterizations of intensional abstraction and predication are developed with respect to three different semantic theories, but in a theory-independent fashion. Second,an approach
Holt, Alexander G. B.
semantic theory ; syntax ; natural language
Abstracting over semantic theories. The topic of this thesis is abstraction over theories of formal semantics for natural language. It is motivated by the belief that a metatheoretical perspective can contribute both to a better theoretical understanding of semantic theories, and to improved practical mechanisms for developing theories of semantics and combining them with theories of syntax. The argument for a new way to understand semantic theories rest spartly on the present difficulty of accurately comparing and clasifying theories, aswell as on the desire to easily combine theories that concentrate on different areas of semantics. There is a strong case for encouraging more modularity in the structure of semantic theories, to promote a division of labour, and potentially the development of reusable semantic modules. A more abstract approach to the syntax-semantics interface holds out the hope of further benefits, notably a degree of guaranteed semantic coherence via typesor constraints. Two case studies of semantic abstraction are presented. First,alternative characterizations of intensional abstraction and predication are developed with respect to three different semantic theories, but in a theory-independent fashion. Second,an approach
semantic_theory topic abstraction theory formal_semantics natural_language motivate belief perspective contribute well theoretical semantic_theory improved practical mechanism develop_theory semantics combine theory syntax argument new_way semantic_theory rest present difficulty accurately compare theory desire easily combine theory concentrate different area semantics strong case encouraging modularity structure semantic_theory promote division_labour potentially development semantic module abstract syntax_semantics interface hold hope benefit notably degree guarantee semantic coherence via constraint two_case study semantic abstraction present first alternative characterization intensional abstraction predication develop respect three_different semantic_theory theory independent fashion second