ABSTRACT
In this chapter we define linguistic semantics as the study of literal, decontextualized, grammatical meaning. We begin with the difference between literal and implicational meaning and then illustrate meaning that has grammatical relevance. We contrast this view of meaning with that given by philosophical semantics, focusing on two basic questions: Is meaning possible? What kinds of meanings are possible? We show how linguistic semantics positions itself differently from philosophical semantics on such issues as the kinds of meaning that languages grammaticalize and the structural and empirical methods of semantic analysis. We close with a consideration of grammatical conditions on meaning and the relation of semantics to morphology.
