Applied Semantics


Book Description

This book is based on material presented at the international summer school on Applied Semantics that took place in Caminha, Portugal, in September 2000. We aim to present some recent developments in programming language research, both in semantic theory and in implementation, in a series of graduate-level lectures. The school was sponsored by the ESPRIT Working Group 26142 on Applied Semantics(APPSEM),whichoperatedbetweenApril1998andMarch2002.The purpose of this working group was to bring together leading reseachers, both in semantic theory and in implementation, with the speci?c aim of improving the communication between theoreticians and practitioners. TheactivitiesofAPPSEMwerestructuredintonineinterdisciplinarythemes: A: Semantics for object-oriented programming B: Program structuring C: Integration of functional languages and proof assistants D: Veri?cation methods E: Automatic program transformation F: Games, sequentiality, and abstract machines G: Types and type inference in programming H: Semantics-based optimization I: Domain theory and real number computation These themes were identi?ed as promising for pro?table interaction between semantic theory and practice, and were chosen to contribute to the following general topics: – description of existing programming language features; – design of new programming language features; – implementation and analysis of programming languages; – transformation and generation of programs; – veri?cation of programs. The chapters in this volume give examples of recent developments covering a broad range of topics of interest to APPSEM.




Norms of Language


Book Description




Semantics in Acquisition


Book Description

This volume contains writings focusing on semantic phenomena and their interpretation in the analysis of the language of a learner. The variety of phenomena that are addressed is substantial: temporal aspect and tense, specificity, quantification, scope, finiteness, focus structure, and focus particles. These phenomena are investigated is many languages. The volume creates a theoretical as well as an empirical bridge between semantic research on the one hand and psycholinguistic acquisition studies on the other.




Discourse, Structure and Linguistic Choice


Book Description

This volume presents eight papers and a draft monograph by T. Price Caldwell on topics in linguistics, semiotics and philosophy of language. From the beginning of his professional career onwards, Caldwell wrote short fiction and poetry, and he taught English literature. The relevance to these of philosophy of language, semiotics and certain areas of linguistics increasingly caught his interest. This book presents the fruits of this later work. Of the papers included here, two are abstract and theoretical, focusing on linguistic methodology and Caldwell’s overarching views on the nature of meaning-in-context. His position here, which he called Molecular Sememics, echoes early Structuralism and Functionalism, but addresses shortfalls in each. Two other papers apply the method and theory to topics within semantics and pragmatics, including especially the structuring of discourse. The remaining four papers connect Caldwell’s theoretical insights to his life-long interests in fiction and pedagogy. The monograph – which Caldwell was left unfinished due to illness – aims to present as a single intellectual package the theory and the applications.




Major Trends in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics 3


Book Description

In the three volumes of Major Trends in Theoretical and Applied Linguistics, the editors guide the reader through a well-selected compendium of works, presenting a fresh look at contemporary linguistics. Specialists will find chapters that contribute to their fields of interest, and the three-volume collection will provide useful reading for anyone interested in linguistics. The first volume explores theoretical issues dealing with phonetics-phonology and syntax-semantics-morphology. Volume two is organized into three main sections that examine interdisciplinary linguistics: discourse analysis, gender and lexicography; language acquisition, and language disorders. Finally, volume three focuses on applied linguistics - both language teaching/ learning and education.




Pragmatics and its Applications to TESOL and SLA


Book Description

A concise introduction to the field of theoretical pragmatics and its applications in second language acquisition and English-language instruction Pragmatics and its Applications to TESOL and SLA offers an in-depth description of key areas of linguistic pragmatics and a review of how those topics can be applied to pedagogy in the fields of second language acquisition (SLA) and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). This book is an excellent resource for students and professionals who have an interest in teaching pragmatics (speech acts, the cooperative principle, deixis, politeness theory, and more) in second language contexts. This book introduces technical terminology and concepts—including the fundamentals of semantics and semiotics—in simple language, and it provides illuminating examples, making it an excellent choice for readers with an elementary linguistics background who wish to further their knowledge of pragmatics. It also covers more advanced pragmatics topics, including stance, indexicality, and pragmatic appropriateness. Key features include: A comprehensive introduction to pragmatics, covering meaning, speech acts, the cooperation principle, politeness, metapragmatics, and more A unique orientation toward practical application in second language acquisition studies and English-language instruction Two-part chapters clearly separating theoretical introductions from concrete, real-world applications of the theory Thorough coverage that is accessible to both students and professionals currently teaching English to speakers of other languages, including sample lesson plans Practical chapters on the interface between pragmatics and teaching, and on research design Pragmatics and its Applications to TESOL and SLA is a comprehensive and coherent introduction, perfect for students, researchers, and scholars of pragmatics, second language acquisition, language teaching, and intercultural communication. It is also an excellent resource for professionals in the field of English-language education.




Semantic IoT: Theory and Applications


Book Description

This book is focused on an emerging area, i.e. combination of IoT and semantic technologies, which should enable breaking the silos of local and/or domain-specific IoT deployments. Taking into account the way that IoT ecosystems are realized, several challenges can be identified. Among them of definite importance are (this list is, obviously, not exhaustive): (i) How to provide common representation and/or shared understanding of data that will enable analysis across (systematically growing) ecosystems? (ii) How to build ecosystems based on data flows? (iii) How to track data provenance? (iv) How to ensure/manage trust? (v) How to search for things/data within ecosystems? (vi) How to store data and assure its quality? Semantic technologies are often considered among the possible ways of addressing these (and other, related) questions. More precisely, in academic research and in industrial practice, semantic technologies materialize in the following contexts (this list is, also, not exhaustive, but indicates the breadth of scope of semantic technology usability): (i) representation of artefacts in IoT ecosystems and IoT networks, (ii) providing interoperability between heterogeneous IoT artefacts, (ii) representation of provenance information, enabling provenance tracking, trust establishment, and quality assessment, (iv) semantic search, enabling flexible access to data originating in different places across the ecosystem, (v) flexible storage of heterogeneous data. Finally, Semantic Web, Web of Things, and Linked Open Data are architectural paradigms, with which the aforementioned solutions are to be integrated, to provide production-ready deployments.