What is formal semantics?
(1) Formal semantics = the study of how language encodes meaning. (2) The communication process: Speaker thinks of message –> Speaker encodes message –> Speaker transmits message –> hearer receives message –> hearer decodes message –> hearer gets message. Semantics is the study of the encoding process: finding out what meanings correspond to what parts of the code, and how they combine to give the final total message. Both speaker and hearer have to know the code. Note that not only are there different linguistic codes across cultures, there are different codes of body language used to convey meaning. (Solicit some). (Navajo chin pointing, Inuktitut eyebrow raising (for “yes”), different rude gestures across languages.) Some facial codes are universal smiling, frowning, crying, surprised expression, disgusted expression. (3) Consider the following situations. Who s producing meaningful communication? What s the message? Who s using the code of English? Is the message received? • D
