Semantics (disambiguation)

The metadata subpage is missing. You can start it via filling in this form or by following the instructions that come up after clicking on the [show] link to the right.

Do you see this on PREVIEW? then SAVE! before following a link. To find out more about the use of metadata for the management of Citizendium pages, see CZ:Metadata. You may see this box for one of two reasons. Either: A - New page has been created, or subpages template was added to an existing page B - Cluster move is in progress Click either the A or B link for further instructions. [Feel free to recommend improvements to the text or links in this template] A - For a New Cluster use the following directions Subpages format requires a metadata page. Using the following instructions will complete the process of creating this article's subpages. Click the blue "metadata template" link below to create the page. On the edit page that appears paste in the article's title across from "pagename =". You might also fill out the checklist part of the form. Ignore the rest. For background, see Using the Subpages template Don't worry--you'll get the hang of it right away. Remember to hit Save! the "metadata template". However, you can create articles without subpages. Just delete the {{subpages}} template from the top of this page and this prompt will disappear. :) Don't feel obligated to use subpages, it's more important that you write sentences, which you can always do without writing fancy code. [Feel free to recommend improvements to the text or links in this template] B - For a Cluster Move use the following directions The metadata template should be moved to the new name as the first step. Please revert this move and start by using the Move Cluster link at the top left of the talk page. The name prior to this move can be found at the following link. [Feel free to recommend improvements to the text or links in this template]

---

Semantics is the study of the way in which the use of and interrelationships between words, phrases and sentences create meaning in language.

There are a number of approaches to semantics, but one approach, pioneered by Richard Montague and known as model-theoretic semantcs (or simply Montague semantics) is based on the idea of interpretation. An interpretation is a mapping from the domain of sentences to a formal structure known as a model. Models include relationships and attributes that may be defined in set-theoretic terms (e.g., older than, inanimate, owner of, etc.) for a property to be semantically interesting, it must hold in all interpretations (or all interpretations satisfying a suitable sent of restrictions). This ensures that they do not reflect accidental or contingent information.

Rule to Rule Hypothesis

An important idea in the semantics of natural languages is the rule to rule hypothesis. The idea is that any phrase structure rule or, more generally, syntactic construct, will have a corresponding semantic relationship. Thus, in the sentence

John sees Sally.

the relationship between John and Sally established by the verb see must correspond to a relationship on the level of models to which the verb see is mapped.