Understanding Semantics, 2nd Edition

by Sebastian Löbner

This volume provides an introduction to semantics for readers new to the subject. The aim of the book is to offer an introduction which is concise and accessible whilst at the same time thorough and up to date. The first chapters introduce central topics in the description of word and sentence meaning, and the second part comprises chapters which look at the relation of semantics to neighbouring disciplines such as cognition, social interaction, language comparison and history, and literature. These sections make clear the ways in which semantics is connected with other disciplines. Each chapter includes a summary, a checklist of key terms, exercises with answers in the back, further exercises without answers, and suggestions for further reading.

Genres: Linguistics, Nonfiction, Philosophy

ebook

First published May 3, 2002

Reviews

[Bear Wiseman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a perfectly good Semantics book. A few of the chapters are a little overly confusing in regard to the material (I've read similar things explained in far better ways before), and there is the insanely irritating inconsistency in the use of "iff" to say "if and only if", which I find to be a rather redundant statement. Plus to people who don't know that, it just looks like an irritating misspelling. As a required book for university though, it certainly adds something to the curriculum. Better clarity of writing would be an improvement though (chapter 6 in particular, was very hard to grasp).

[André · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a good overview about the basics of Semantics. It got me well through my intermediate exams. Some parts are a little bit silly, but that's okay... I won't complain.