1. Semantics

2. Semantics
• One of the branches of linguistics.
• Study of the meaning of words, phrases, and
sentences.
• Words with meaning are typically the nouns,
verbs, adjectives and adverbs.

3. Meaning
• Conceptual
• Associative

4. Conceptual Meaning
Covers those basic, essential components
of meaning that are conveyed by the literal
use of a word.

5. Ex:
• Needle: Thin, sharp, steel instrument.

6. Associative Meaning
Has a different associations and
connotations attached to a word and these
associations may differ from one person to the
next.

7. Ex:
• Needle: Pain, illness, blood, drugs, thread,
knitting, or hard to find (especially on a
haystack).

8. In a linguistic semantics we are more
concerned with trying to analyze
conceptual meaning than associative
meaning.

9. Semantic Features
• The hamburger ate the boy.
• The table listens to the radio.
• The horse is riding the newspaper.

10. Syntax Structure:
• The hamburger ate the boy.
NP V NP
• The table listens to the radio.
NP V NP
• The horse is riding the newspaper.
NP V NP

11. Semantic Features
Table horse boy man girl woman
animate - + + + + +
human - - + + + +
female - - - - + +
adult - + - + - +

12. Ex:
• The __________ is reading the newspaper.
N(+Human)

13. Semantic Roles
• Agent and theme
• Instrument and experiencer
• Location, source and goal

14. Agent and Theme
The entity that performs the actions technically
known as the agent and the entity that is involved
in or affected by the action is called the theme (or
sometimes the ‘patient’.)

15. agents and themes are the most common
semantic roles. Although agents are typically
human, they can also be non-human entities
that cause actions.

16. Ex of agents:
Human – The boy
The boy kicked the ball.
Natural force – The wind
The wind blew the ball away.
A machine - A car
A car ran over the ball.
A creature – The dog
The dog caught the ball.

17. The theme is typically non - human, but can be
human.
Ex:
The dog chased the boy.
Agent theme

18. In fact, the same physical entity can appear in two
different semantic roles in a sentence.
Ex:
The dog chased the boy.
Agent theme
The boy cut himself.
Agent theme

19. Instrument and Experiencer

20. If an agent uses another entity in order to
perform an action, that other entity fills the role of
instrument.
Ex:
The boy cut the rope with an old razor.
Agent instrument
He drew the picture with a crayon.
Agent instrument

21. When a noun phrase is used to designate an
entity as the person who has a feeling, perception or
taste, it fills the semantic role of experiencer.
Ex:
The boy feels sad.
experiencer

22. Location, source and goal

23. Location - Where an entity is in the description
of an event.
Ex: on the table, in the room
Source - Where an entity moves from.
Ex: from Chicago, from USA
Goal - Where the entity moves to.
Ex: to New Orleans, to Philippines

24. Mary saw a fly on the wall.
EXPERIENCER THEME LOCATION
She borrowed a magazine from George.
AGENT THEME SOURCE
She squashed the bug with the magazine.
AGENT THEME INSTRUMENT
She handed the magazine back to George.
AGENT THEME GOAL
“Gee thanks,” said George.
AGENT