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Semantics

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Semantics, Fifth Edition by John I. Saeed is a comprehensive introduction to linguistic semantics, updated with a new chapter on inferential pragmatics. This student-friendly textbook assumes no prior knowledge, guiding readers through fundamental concepts, key semantic theories, and linguistic communication of meaning with clarity and accessible language. It includes insights into contemporary research, cognitive semantics, cross-linguistic variation, and pragmatics, supported by numerous exercises and examples from diverse languages.
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Ideal for undergraduate students studying linguistics, English language, applied linguistics, modern languages, and computer sciences seeking a thorough yet approachable foundation in semantics.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The latest edition of the bestselling introduction to the field of linguistic semantics, updated throughout and featuring a wholly new chapter on inferential pragmatics

Semantics, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive and well-balanced introduction to the study of the communication of meaning in language. Assuming no previous background in semantics and limited familiarity with formal linguistics, this student-friendly textbook describes the concepts, theory, and study of semantics in an accessible and clear style. Concise chapters describe the role of semantics within contemporary linguistics, cover key topics in the analysis of word and sentence meaning, and review major semantic theories such as componential theory, formal semantics, and cognitive semantics.

The updated fifth edition incorporates recent theoretical developments and important research in linguistic semantics, featuring an entirely new chapter examining the overlap between inferential pragmatics and Relevance Theory, truth-conditional meaning, and other traditional areas of semantics. Revised and expanded sections discuss the continuing growth and consolidation of cognitive semantics, various contextual features of language, conceptualization and categorization, and construal and perspective. This edition includes new exercises with solutions, up-to-date references to relevant literature, and additional examples with data from a wide range of different languages.

  • Covers basic concepts and methods as well as key theoretical models, current lines of research, and important writers
  • Explains general concepts in semantics before gradually moving to more advanced topics in semantic description and theoretical approaches
  • Highlights the relation between cross-linguistic variation and language universals
  • Provides students with the background necessary to understand more advanced and specialized primary semantics literature
  • Includes a glossary of technical terms and numerous exercises arranged by level of difficulty
  • Highlights the relationship between semantics and cross-linguistic variation, language universals, and pragmatics

With detailed examples from a wide range of contexts and a wealth of practical exercises, Semantics, Fifth Edition, remains the perfect textbook for undergraduate students of linguistics, English language, applied linguistics, modern languages, and computer sciences.

Series: Introducing Linguistics

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    A valuable companion to Andrew Carnie's Syntax: A Generative Introduction, 4th Edition, full of practice questions and engaging exercises to promote student comprehension Syntax: A Generative Introduction, Fourth Edition, is the leading textbook for undergraduate courses in syntax, covering foundational topics such as universal grammar, parts of speech, constituency, trees, structural relations, binding theory, x-bar theory, and movement, as well...
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    Linguistics is a comprehensive crosslinguistic introduction to the study of language, ideal for students with no background in linguistics. A comprehensive introduction to the study of language is set apart by its inclusion of cross-linguistic data from over 80 different spoken and signed languages. The book explores how language works by examining discourse, sentence-structure, meaning, words, and sounds. It introduces...
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  • Semantics
    The latest edition of the bestselling introduction to the field of linguistic semantics, updated throughout and featuring a wholly new chapter on inferential pragmatics Semantics, Fifth Edition, is a comprehensive and well-balanced introduction to the study of the communication of meaning in language. Assuming no previous background in semantics and limited familiarity with formal linguistics, this student-friendly textbook describes the...
    Paperback
    $9999
    Available
    Ships in 3-4 weeks

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781119709855

Publisher: John Wiley and Sons Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 22 December 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Wiley-Blackwell

Edition: 5th edition

Audience: Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 34.0mm

Width: 170.0mm

Height: 244.0mm

Weight: 1162g

Pages: 592

About the Author

JOHN I. SAEED is a Senior Fellow of Trinity College, University of Dublin, Ireland, where he is a professor in linguistics. He has published studies on Cushitic linguistics, particularly Somali and related languages, as well as Irish Sign Language and linguistics. He is the author of several books, including Somali and Irish Sign Language: A Cognitive Linguistic Approach (with Lorraine Leeson).

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