In linguistics, formal semantics seeks to
understand linguistic meaning by constructing
precise mathematical models of the principles
that speakers use to define relations between
expressions in a natural language and the
world that supports meaningful discourse.
The mathematical tools used are the confluence
of formal logic and formal language theory,
especially typed lambda calculi.
== Overview ==
Linguists rarely employed formal semantics
until Richard Montague showed how English
(or any natural language) could be treated
like a formal language.
His contribution to linguistic semantics,
which is now known as Montague grammar, was
the basis for further developments, like the
categorial grammar of Bar-Hillel and colleagues,
and the more recent type-logical semantics
(or grammar) based on Lambek calculus.Another
line of inquiry, using linear logic, is Glue
semantics, which is based on the idea of "interpretation
as deduction", closely related to the "parsing
as deduction" paradigm of categorial grammar.Cognitive
semantics emerged and developed as a reaction
against formal semantics, but there have been
recently several attempts at reconciling both
positions.
== See also ==
Computational semantics
Discourse representation theory
Frame semantics (linguistics)
Semantic parsing
== References ==
== Further reading ==
Max Cresswell (2006).
"Formal semantics".
In Michael Devitt, Richard Hanley.
The Blackwell guide to the philosophy of language.
Wiley-Blackwell.
ISBN 978-0-631-23142-4.
A very accessible overview of the main ideas
in the field.
John I. Saeed (2008).
Semantics.
Introducing linguistics (3rd ed.).
Wiley-Blackwell.
ISBN 978-1-4051-5639-4.
Chapter 10, Formal semantics, contains the
best chapter-level coverage of the main technical
directions
Johan van Benthem; Alice Ter Meulen (2010).
Handbook of Logic and Language (2nd ed.).
Elsevier.
ISBN 978-0-444-53726-3.
The most comprehensive reference in the area.
Emmon W. Bach (1989).
Informal lectures on formal semantics.
SUNY Press.
ISBN 978-0-88706-772-3.
One of the first textbooks.
Accessible to undergraduates.
Ronnie Cann (1993).
Formal semantics: an introduction.
Cambridge University Press.
ISBN 978-0-521-37610-5.
Irene Heim; Angelika Kratzer (1998).
Semantics in generative grammar.
Wiley-Blackwell.
ISBN 978-0-631-19713-3.
Gennaro Chierchia; Sally McConnell-Ginet (2000).
Meaning and grammar: an introduction to semantics
(2nd ed.).
MIT Press.
ISBN 978-0-262-53164-1.
Sean A. Fulop (2004).
On the Logic and Learning of Language.
Trafford Publishing.
ISBN 978-1-4120-2381-8.
Glyn V. Morrill (1994).
Type logical grammar: categorial logic of
signs.
Springer.
ISBN 978-0-7923-3095-0.
Reinhard Muskens Type-logical Semantics to
appear in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy
Online.
Bob Carpenter (1998).
Type-logical semantics.
MIT Press.
ISBN 978-0-262-53149-8.
Johan van Benthem (1995).
Language in action: categories, lambdas, and
dynamic logic.
MIT Press.
ISBN 978-0-262-72024-3.
Barbara H. Partee: Reflections of a formal
semanticist as of Feb 2005.
Ample historical information.
(an extended version of the introductory essay
in Barbara H. Partee: Compositionality in
Formal Semantics: Selected Papers of Barbara
Partee.
Blackwell Publishers, Oxford, 2004.)
