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Topic 3: predicates
Introduction to Semantics
Definition
Any word which can function as the
predicator of a sentence.
Predicators
The parts which are not referring expressions
Nouns, verbs, adjectives, preposition
NOT conjunctions (and, but, or, so), articles (a, the)
A predicate can only have one sense in a
sentence.
A word may have multiple senses.
Semantic elements of a simple
declarative sentence
Referring expressions = arguments
Predicator = predicate
Example:
Romeo loves Juliet.
Arguments=Romeo, Juliet
Predicate=love
Grammatical vs. semantic analysis
Grammatical
analysis
Semantic
analysis
Subject
Verb
Object
Romeo
loves
Juliet
Argument
1
Predicate
Argument
2
Degree of a predicate
The degree of a predicate is determined
by the number of arguments
One-place predicate
Requires one argument
John kicks.
Two-place predicate
Requires two arguments
John kicks the ball.
How do we talk about the nonexistent things?
Can language be used to talk about
an unreal imaginative world?
Harry Potter
Narnia