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I examine the difficulties that several philosophers of language are liable to encounter in their attempts to provide an account of the connection between truth and assertion. I then attempt to provide an account of this connection. The analysis is concerned chiefly with difficulties which consist in elucidating the conceptual connection between truth and assertion in a way that respects certain linguistic intuitions while at the same time rendering the concept of truth amenable to a semantic interpretation. The proposed view suggests one way in which we might go about meeting the theoretical demands implicit in addressing this concern, among others, demonstrating the extent to which a theory of truth should be regarded as belonging to the province of epistemology. Insofar as semantical considerations figure into such a theory, a more systematic investigation of the interface between epistemology and natural language semantics is recommended. The solution to many problems at this interface, I argue, lay in an analysis of judgment.

Thesis (Ph.D. (Translation Studies and Linguistics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2019 / Refer to ducoment

<p>This dissertation sheds light on the semantic domain of causation in Arabic. The aim is to examine two Arabic causative verb forms, Form I and Form II, and their associations with (in)directness of causation. The central working hypothesis throughout this work is the verb-semantics hypothesis by Shibatani and Pardeshi (2002), which posits that autonomy of the causee, degree of directed causation, requirement for an external causer, and merger of two subevents into one conceptual event are factors that predict the morpho-syntactic complexity of a causative construction. Following the lead of Ambridge et al. (2020) on their operationalization of the verb-semantics hypothesis by Shibatani and Pardeshi (2002), two experiments were conducted. In both experiments, 60 animations for 60 verbs were used to depict various causative scenarios. The first experiment explored how Arabic speakers mentally perceived 60 events that depicted various degrees of causativity. This was achieved through collecting ratings from 20 Arabic speakers on four semantic variables: autonomy of the causee, degree of directed causation, degree of event-merge, and the requirement for an external causer. The second experiment obtained judgments of the relative acceptability of the less- and more-transparent causative forms of the same 60 verbs from 24 native-speaking Arabic adults. </p> <p>Three analyses were conducted on the results to better understand how causatives manifest in language use cross-linguistically, with a dedicated focus on the Arabic language.The first analysis addressed whether the four semantic variables of the verb-semantics hypothesis of Shibatani and Pardeshi (2002) account for the restrictions on the use of Arabic verb Form I and Form II. It was found that the variables autonomy of the causee, degree of directed causation, and the requirement for an external causer each showed strong positive correlations with Form I. The variable degree of event-merge showed a weak positive correlation with Form I. No correlations were noticed between any of the four variables and Form II. The second analysis addressed whether Arabic speakers perceive events in a similar way to speakers of other languages. Because this study followed the methodology Ambridge et al. (2020) used to examine causatives in English, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese and Kʼicheʼs, the results could be directly compared. It was discovered that yes, Arabic speakers conceptualize the events tested similarly to speakers of the five other comparison languages. Twenty-three verbs (>38.3%) were rated the same by all speakers (120 speakers, 20 from each language) on all four semantic variables. From the remaining thirty-seven verbs, twenty-three verbs received the same ratings in three of the semantic variables, but not in event-merge. The remaining fourteen verbs were associated with numerous disagreements among the participants. The third and final analysis addressed the claim that all human languages use morphosyntax to mark the difference between direct versus indirect causative events by testing whether this holds true for Arabic. Across-linguistic computational model developed by Aryawibawa et al. (2021) was used to answer this question on the reasoning that if the principle is truly cross-linguistic, then the universal model should be able to utilize speaker semantic judgements to make accurate predictions about the grammatical acceptability of the different morphosyntactic forms. The model accurately predicted Arabic speaker judgments by a moderate correlation of 0.05, suggesting that Arabic conceptualizes directness of causation in a similar way to other languages, which supports the view that the underlying semantic distinction of more versus less direct causation maps onto and manifests as a morphosyntactic distinction. </p>

The aim of this dissertation is to prove that tsotsitaal is widely spoken in the black townships and interferes with the correct usage of standard Zulu. Secondly, the intention is to prove that the influence of Zulu on tsotsitaal is greater than that of any other African language. In chapter 2 the standard language, colloquial variety and tsotsitaal are compared and parallels are drawn between the last two speech varieties. Chapter 3 concentrates on the static and dynamic elements of tsotsitaal as far as morphology is concerned. In chapter 4, the focus is on the meaning of tsotsi words in their social context. Words and phrases which appear and sound like Zulu words spoken by the tsotsis, have a different meaning. Chapter 5 is the concluding chapter. It provides reasons why tsotsitaal is dynamic. It hints at the usefulness of tsotsitaal and its detrimental effects are also pointed out / African Languages / M.A. (African languages)

Thesis (MA (African Languages))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main concern of this thesis relates to an investigation of the lexical-semantic nature of the motion verb –phuma (exit, go out) in isiZulu within the framework of Generative Lexicon Theory. In particular, the thesis explores the event structure and aspectual verb class properties in the locative-subject alternation with the verb –phuma in isiZulu. Chapter one presents a general introduction to the study, stating the purpose and aims of the research, giving a broad perspective of the theoretical framework adopted, and outlining the organisation of the investigation of the lexical-semantic properties of –phuma. Chapter two presents a detailed discussion of Generative Lexicon Theory, which centrally concerns accounting for polysemy phenomena across various nominal and verbal expressions. The four dimensions of lexical-semantic representation that constitute the central theoretical properties in Generative Lexicon Theory are reviewed, i.e. Argument structure, Event structure, Qualia structure and Lexical Inheritance structure. In addition, the various facets of meaning of Qualia structure namely Fomral, Constitutive, Telic and Agentive facets, are described in relation to their theoretical significance in accounting for word meaning and polysemy. Chapter three examines in a systematic and comprehensive way the range of locative-subject alternation possibilities with the verb –phuma. In particular the range of semantic types of the NP subject argument of –phuma taking a locative complement is explored to determine whether all these sentences permit a corresponding locative-alternation construction. In addition, the aspectual verb class properties of the two variants in the alternation are analysed with regard to a range of diagnositics associated with stative events, activity events, achievement events and accomplishments events. It is known that the two variants in the alternation can be distinguished in terms of their aspectual verb class properties. Chapter four summarises the main findings of the study and presents the conclusion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofbelang van hierdie tesis hou verband met die ondersoek van die leksikaal-semantiese aard van die bewegingswerkwoorde –phuma in isiZulu binne die raamwerk van Generatiewe Leksikon teorie soos uiteengesit deur Pustejovsky (1996). Die tesis ondersoek spesifiek die gebeurtenis ('event') struktuur en aspektuele werkwoordklas eienskappe in die lokatief-subjek alternasie met die werkwoord –phuma in isiZulu. Hoofstuk een gee 'n algemene oorsig van die studie, stel die doelstellings van die teoretiese raamwerk wat aanvaar word, en skets die organisasie van die studie oor die leksikaalsemantiese kenmerke van –phuma. Hoofstuk twee bied 'n detail bespreking van Generatiewe Leksikonteorie, wat sentraal verband hou met die verklaring van polisemieverskynsels van naamwoordelike en werkwoordelike uitdrukkings. Die vier dimensies van leksikaal-semantiese representasie wat die sentrale teoretiese eienskappe vorm in Generatiewe Leksikonteorie word beskou, naamlik argumentstruktuur, Gebeurtenis ('Event') struktuur, Qualiastruktuur en Leksikaleerwingstruktuur. Voorts word die verskillende fasette van betekenis van Qualiastruktuur, nl. Formeel, Konstitief, Doel ('Telic') en Agentief beskryf rakende die teoretiese belang daarvan vir die verklaring van woordbetekenis en polisemie. Hoofstuk drie ondersoek op 'n sistematiese wyse die verskeidenheid van lokatief-subjek alternasie moontlikhede met die werkwoord –phuma. In die besonder, word die semantiese tipes van die NP subjek argument van –phuma wat 'n lokatiewe komplement neem ondersoek om te bepaal watter van hierdie sinne neem 'n lokatiewe-alternasie konstruksie. Voorts word die aspektuele werkwoordklas kenmerke van die twee variante in die alternasie ontleed met verwysing na 'n reeks toetse vir die onderskeid van aspektuele werkwoordklasse. Daar word aangetoon dat die twee alternasies onderskei kan word in terme van aspektuele werkwoordklas. Hoofstuk vier gee die opsomming en konklusie van die studie. / UKUBUKEZA KAFUSHANE: Lesi sifundo sibheka ucwaningo lwesimantikhi yelekhizikhoni yezenzo ezikhethiweyo esiZulwini. Esahlukweni soku – 1, injongo yalesisifundo iyashiwo, imiphumela yocwaningo mayelana nesimathikhi yelekhizikhoni yesenzo u – phuma kanjalo nengqikithi yelekhizikhoni itshengiswe ngokukaPustejovosky (1996). Isimo sengqikithi kanye nokulungiselelwa kwesifundo kuzoxoxwa ngakho kulesisifundo. Isahluko sesi – 2 siveza uhlobo lwesimantikhi yethu. Ulwazi olucutshunguliwe lwelekhizikhoni lufaka amazinga amaningi amele izinhlobo ezahlukeneyo zolwazi lwesimantikhi. Kula mazinga singabala isakhiwo sempikiswano, isakhiwo sesigameko, isakhiwo sekhwaliya kanye nesakhiwo esisohlwini ololandelayo. Lesi sahluko sesibili sibuye siboniso ngokucace kakhulu ngokwesakhiwo sekhwaliya nangendima edlaliwe ekuqhubekiseni imisebenzi yamagama kanye namabinzana ahlanganisiwe. Isahluko sesi – 3 sihlola ucwaningo lwesimantikhi lwesenzo u – phuma esimayelana nezingxenye zezimpawu ezikhethiweyo zempikiswano yebinzana lebizo eliyinhloko yesenzo u – phuma kanye nezincazelo ezahiukahlukene ezivela emagameni ahlanganiswe ngokwempikiswano yemfezeko. Izindlela zezincazelo eziningi zesenzo u – phuma zihloliwe esakhiweni sokushintshana emishweni ngokubandakanye esakhiweni sesigameko. Incazelo yelekhizikhoni ngokwamagama esakhiwo sempikiswano kanye nesakhiwo sesigameko sesenzo u – phuma emishweni eyahlukahlukene icutshunguliwe. Isahluko sesi – 4 siyisiphetho esifingqa konke okutholakala ezahlukweni ezindlule esifundweni socwaningo lwelekhizikhoni yesimantikhi yezenzo ezikhethwe esiZulwini.

Thesis (DLitt)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this dissertation, the semantic and syntactic properties of deverbatives are analyzed in the context of Generative Lexicon theory, which is a model of lexical semantics. The aim of the analysis relates to the existence of the relationship between nominals derived directly from an event description and their inheritance of the properties of that event. The deverbal nouns in Sesotho are analyzed semantically within specific parameters taking into account the deverbal noun as a whole. This is done by viewing how word meaning interact with a set of generative mechanisms to account for the creative use of language. These mechanisms involve the levels of representations (i.e. argument, event and qualia structures) which provides information about the number and type of arguments; the event type of a lexical item and how these events are tied together within different relations. There are correlations between lexically encoded base forms and morphological derived forms. These correlations provide a need for a representational structure to distinguish between stage-level and individual-level nominals. Focusing on the role of events in the semantics of nouns, it is shown that stage-level and individual-level nouns differ in the type and the quantification of their defining event. This led to the adoption of the view that that nominals in general should be named after the events they each fulfil. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie proefskrif word die semantiese en sintaktiese eienskappe van deverbatiewe in Sesotho ontleed binne die raamwerk van Generatiewe Leksikonteorie, ‘n model van leksikale semantiek. Die doel van die analise hou verband met die verhouding tussen nominale direk afgelei vanaf ‘n gebeurtenis (‘event’) beskrywing en die oorerwing van die eienskappe van daardie gebeurtenis (‘event’). Die Sesotho deverbatiewe word semanties ontleed binne spesifieke parameters met inagneming van die semantiese eienskappe van die deverbatief as geheel. Dit word gedoen deur ‘n ondersoek te doen na hoe woordbetekenis in interaksie is met ‘n stel generatiewe meganismes om ‘n verklaring te bied vir die kreatiewe gebruik van taal. Hierdie meganismes betrek die vlakke van representasie (nl. argumentstruktuur, gebeurtenis (‘event’) struktuur en qualia-struktuur) wat inligting voorsien omtrent die getal en tipes argumente (dit is, uitdrukkings wat tematiese rolle het), die gebeurtenis (‘event’) tipe van ‘n leksikale item, en hoe hierdie gebeurtenisse (‘events’) saamhang binne verskillende verbande. Daar is korrelasies tussen leksikaal ge-enkodeerde basisvorme en morfologiesafgeleide vorms. Hierdie ko-relasies bied ‘n behoefte vir ‘n verteenwoordigende struktuur om te onderskei tussen fase-vlak (‘stage-level’) en individuele-vlak nominale. Daar word aangetoon, met fokus op die gebeurtenisse (‘events’) in die semantiek van naamwoorde, dat fase-vlak en individuele-vlak verskil in die tipe en die kwantifisering van hulle definieerbare gebeurtenis. Dit lei tot die aanvaarding van die siening dat nominale in die algemeen benoem moet word na die gebeurtenisse waaraan elk voldoen.

The overarching topic of this dissertation is the semantics and pragmatics of definite descriptions. It focuses on the question whether sentences such as ‘the king of France is bald’ literally assert the existence of a unique king (and therefore are false) or simply presuppose the existence of such a king (and thus fail to express propositions). One immediate obstacle to resolving this question is that immediate truth value judgments about such sentences (sentences with non-denoting descriptions) are particularly unstable; some elicit a clear intuition of falsity whereas others simply seem awkward or strange. Because of these variations, truth value judgments are generally considered unreliable. In the first chapter of the dissertation, an explanation of this phenomenon is developed. It is observed that when these types of sentences are considered in the context of a discourse, a systematic pattern in judgments emerges. This pattern, it is argued, should be explained in terms of certain pragmatic factors, e.g. whether a speaker’s utterance is interpreted as cooperative. A detailed and general explanation of the phenomenon is then presented which draws importantly on recent research in the semantics and pragmatics of questions and focus. It is shown that the behavior of these judgments can be systematically explained, that truth value judgments are not as unreliable as standardly assumed, and that the proposed explanation best supports the conclusion that definite descriptions presuppose rather than assert existence. In the second chapter, the following problem is investigated. If definite descriptions are assumed to literally assert existence, a sentence such as ‘Hans wants the ghost in his attic to be quiet’ is incorrectly predicted to be true only if Hans wants there to be a (unique) ghost in his attic. This prediction is often considered evidence against Russell’s quantificational analysis and evidence in favor of the referential analysis of Frege and Strawson. Against this claim, it is demonstrated that this problem is a general problem about the existence commitments of natural language determiners, i.e. not an argument in favor of a referential analysis. It is shown that in order to avoid these undesirable predictions, quite radical changes to the semantic framework are required. For example, it must be assumed that a sentence of the form ‘The F is G’ has the open sentence ‘x is G’ as its asserted content. A uniform quantificational and presuppositional analysis of definites and indefinites is outlined which by exploiting certain features of so-called dynamic semantics unproblematically assumes that the asserted contents indeed are open sentences. In view of the proposed quantificational/presuppositional analysis, the dissertation is concluded by a rejection of the argument put forward by Reimer (1998) and Devitt (2004) that definite descriptions are ambiguous between attributive (quantificational) and referential (indexical) uses. Reimer and Devitt’s argument is (in contrast to Donnellan, 1966) based primarily on the assumption that definite descriptions are conventionally used to communicate singular thoughts and that the conventional meaning of a definite description therefore must be fundamentally indexical/directly referential. I argue that this argument relies crucially on tacit assumptions about semantic processing for which no empirical evidence is provided. I also argue that the argument is too general; if sound, it would be an argument for an indexical treatment of most, if not all, other determiners. I then conclude by demonstrating that the view does not explain any new data and thus has no clear motivation. In short, this dissertation provides a detailed pragmatic explanation of a long-standing puzzle about truth value judgments and then outlines a novel dynamic semantic analysis of definites and indefinites. This analysis solves a significant problem about existence commitments — a problem that neither Russell’s nor the Frege/Strawson analysis are equipped to handle. This analysis is then defended against the claim that definite descriptions are ambiguous.

We analyse the semantics of aspect-oriented extensions to functional languages by presenting compositional translations of these primitives into languages with traditional notions of state and control. As a first step, we examine an existing semantic description of aspects which allows the labelling of program points. We show that a restriction of these semantics to aspects which do not preempt the execution of code can be fully abstractly translated into a functional calculus with higher order references, but that removing this restriction requires a notion of exception handling to be added to the target language in order to yield a sound semantics. Next, we proceed to show that abandoning the labelling technique, and consequently relaxing the so-called ``obliviousness'' property of aspectual languages, allows preemptive aspects to be included in the general references model without the need for exceptions. This means that the game model of general references is inherited by the aspect calculus. The net result is a clean semantic description of aspect-orientation, which mirrors recently published techniques for their implementation, and thereby provides theoretical justification for these systems. The practical validity of our semantics is demonstrated by implementing extensions to the basic calculus in Standard ML, and showing how a number of useful aspect-oriented features can be expressed using general references alone. Our theoretical methodology closely follows the proof structure that often appears in the game semantics literature, and therefore provides an operational perspective on notions such as ``bad variables'' and factorisation theorems.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Linguistics and Philosophy, 1980. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND HUMANITIES. / Bibliography: leaves 256-259. / by Marcia Christine Linebarger. / Ph.D.