Exploring the concept of meaning, this book expands on Kasia Jaszczolt's Default Semantics by integrating data from multiple languages. It presents the idea that meaning arises from the combination of information from diverse sources and the interplay of various processes, offering a comprehensive perspective on semantic understanding.
Focusing on temporality, the author presents a novel perspective on how meaning is conveyed in temporally-located utterances and discourses. The concept is framed as degrees of certainty, which are interpreted as varying levels of acceptability regarding the events referenced by the speaker. This approach challenges traditional representations and offers insights into the nuances of language and meaning in communication.
Introducing the fields of semantics, pragmatics, and philosophy in one volume, this is a pioneering guide to how to think about meaning like a linguist and philosopher. It covers key theories and approaches, while also enabling the reader to ask increasingly more sophisticated questions about the interconnected aspects of meaning.