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The Semantic Structure of Sentences - Coggle Diagram
The Semantic Structure of Sentences
It is not the same a analyzing the meaning of words, which is called
Componential Analysis
.
However, Componential Analysis could be used in semantic units longer than the word, a phrase, for example.
If it were done like Componential Analysis, it would lead to confusions.
It requires a hierarchy of units
The major unit is called
Predication
.
It can be divided into
Arguments
and
Predicates
. For ex, My uncle (argument) owns (predicate) this car(argument).
And predicates can also be broken down into features. For ex, Bolied: cooked, inwater, past.
There can also be more complicated Componential Analysis.
The
predicate
is the major element in the predication because it determines the number and nature of the arguments.
It is where the logical elements belonging to the complete predication are found. For ex, tense, modality, and adverbial meanings.
There are three types of Predicate:
Two-place, One-place, and No-place
The meaning of sentences are represented by Componential and Predication Analysis.
In Predication Analysis hyponymy and incompatibility are treated as relations between arguments and predicates.
Variable symbols
may be called
Residual Variables
because they do not represent the whole content of an argument and predicate.
Null arguments
contain no features. For ex, the y are absent of an object from a verb or of an agent phrase with the passive.
In Semantics, a Subordinate Predication may be part of a MAIN Predication. A predicate may govern not only arguments , but other predicates.
A second way to include a predication into another is to reduce its status in the semantic hierarchy further: to the status not of a term, but of a feature.
This kind of predications are called
DOWNGRADED PREDICATIONS
Two kinds of downgraded predication can be established: 1. A
QUALIFYING PREDICATION
: It occurs within an argument and underlies many of the adjectival functions f syntax. 2. A
MODIFYING PREDICATION
: It occurs within a pedicate and underlies many of the adverbial functions of syntax.
Predication analysis can be used to explain
tautology
and
contradiction
.
