ABSTRACT
In discussing significance in language, this book sets out to present a theory of semantics. Semantics, then, covers whatever linguistic signs signify, which includes feelings, attitudes, and the development of social relationships, for example, as well as concepts; semantics is thus taken to be broader than “meaning”, as it has often been understood. Semantics as a study excludes pragmatics (which is social as well as linguistic). Signs in language include not only words, but also syntactic constructions and phonological features. The theory is to consist of a complete and coherent explanation of what meaning is, how it is structured, and how it works. To be complete, the theory will integrate past approaches (treating the functional approach as underlying the others, just as evolutionary theory underlies biology), and include not only what is narrowly linguistic, but also sociolinguistic, psycholinguistic and neurolinguistic explanation. The explanation will include not only analysis of structure and function, but also consideration of underlying principles such as embodiment in the mind and the brain, being systematic, and being functional. “Language” excludes sign language, but covers all varieties of human speech and writing, including exclamations, slang, toddlers’ utterances, and literature, along with some little-known phenomena, such as ideophones and holophrases.
