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formal semantics


Subject Philosophy

DOI: 10.1111/b.9781405106795.2004.x


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P hilosophy of language In contrast to general linguistic semantics, formal semantics is characterized by its appeal to the formal logical method in discussing the meaning of linguistic signs . Richard Montague laid down some foundational work in this field. Its main representative is truth-conditional semantics , developed by Tarski and Davidson on the basis of Frege 's logic. This approach ascribes semantic values to the basic symbols of a language, takes these symbols as elements of the structure of the language, and then derives the semantic values of complex expressions from these elements in accordance with formation rules. The meaning of every sentence is determined by the truth-conditions of its component sentences. Generally, a formal semantics proceeds by first setting up a language, and then laying down rules for matching up sentences of that language with propositions or truth-values . Formalization is used as a way of clarifying what the truth conditions are. “Formal semantics itself was decided as a means of providing a precise interpretation for formal languages, i.e. the logical and mathematical languages that are opposed to natural languages that are spoken or written as the native languages of human beings.” Cann, Formal Semantics ... log in or subscribe to read full text

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The Blackwell Dictionary of Western Philosophy



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