Philosophy for Linguists: An Introduction

by Chapman,Siobhan

• ISBN13: 9780415206594
• ISBN10: 0415206596
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2000-08-31
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Philosophy for Linguistsprovides students with a clear, concise introduction to the main topics in the philosophy of language. Focusing on what linguists need to know and how philosophy relates to modern linguistics, the book is structured around key branches of linguistics: semantics, pragmatics, and language acquisition. Assuming no prior knowledge of philosophy, Siobhan Chapman traces the history and development of ideas in the philosophy of language and outlines the contributions of specific philosophers. The book is highly accessible and includes: a general introduction and introductions to each chapter; numerous examples and quotations; comprehensive suggestions for further reading and an extensive glossary of linguistic terms.

Author Biography

Siobhan Chapman is a lecturer in the Department of English Language and Literature at the University of Liverpool.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	xi
Introduction	1	(1)
The philosophy	2	(1)
The linguistics	3	(2)
Overview	5	(2)
Further reading	7	(1)
Words and things	8	(33)
Introduction	8	(6)
Classical philosophy	14	(3)
The British Empiricists	17	(5)
Names	22	(14)
Use and mention	23	(2)
Mill on direct reference	25	(2)
Frege on sense and reference	27	(4)
Russell on descriptions	31	(3)
Kripke on naming	34	(2)
Words and things in linguistics	36	(3)
Further reading	39	(2)
Propositions and logic	41	(31)
Introduction	41	(2)
Propositions	43	(3)
Formal logic	46	(9)
Propositional logic	47	(6)
Predicate logic	53	(2)
Entailment and presupposition	55	(12)
Frege on logical presupposition	57	(1)
Ressell on denoting	58	(2)
Strawson on referring	60	(3)
Pragmatic presupposition	63	(4)
Logic and linguistics	67	(3)
Further reading	70	(2)
Truth and reality	72	(34)
Introduction	72	(3)
Truth conditions	75	(16)
Analytic and synthetic sentences	76	(4)
Verification	80	(5)
Truth theories	85	(6)
Possible worlds	91	(10)
Modality	93	(4)
Counterfactuals	97	(2)
Montague Grammar	99	(2)
Linguistic semantics	101	(2)
Further reading	103	(3)
Speakers and hearers	106	(38)
Introduction	106	(4)
Wittgenstein's philosophy of language	110	(4)
Ordinary language philosophy	114	(2)
Speech acts	116	(7)
Performatives	117	(3)
Illocutionary force	120	(1)
Searle on speech acts	121	(2)
Meaning and intention	123	(3)
Conversational implicature	126	(11)
Natural language and logic	126	(4)
The co-operative principle	130	(5)
Flouting the maxims	135	(2)
Pragmatics	137	(4)
Further reading	141	(3)
Language and mind	144	(26)
Introduction	144	(2)
Signs and structures	146	(5)
Linguistic determinism	148	(3)
Empiricism	151	(7)
Bloomfield	152	(2)
Quine	154	(4)
The Innateness Hypothesis	158	(9)
Anti-nativism	161	(2)
The language faculty	163	(2)
Knowledge and use of language	165	(2)
Empiricist and mentalist linguistics	167	(3)
Further reading	170	(1)
Glossary	170	(3)
Notes	173	(11)
References	184	(6)
Index	190