Semantics

ENG-263
Lecture 1d
“Problems in the Principle of Compositionality”

By : Muhammad Asif Khan

Lecturer Department of English
KUST

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic: a

Discussion Agenda

a
Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• we discussed that there were four main problems that
the principle of compositionality cannot explain so far
– the first was the difference between sentence and speaker meaning
– The second was the problem of contextualized meaning
– the third was a problem of knowledge or the knowledge problem
• the one that talks about the difference between linguistic knowledge and
world knowledge
– the fourth was the problem of individual differences
• but guess what there's a fifth problem
– we still haven't talked about
• this problem is actually the most important problem and the biggest
problem that the principle of compositionality is facing
– this problem is called the problem of circularity

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• so let's discuss the problem of circularity
– take the word coffee again
• recall that the first problem and
– identify the meaning of the word coffee
» there are tons of individual differences
• like we said
• for me coffee might be
• Black, hot and bitter
• for you it might be
• Creamy, cold and sweet
and still
• for others it might be
• a mix of both it might be black, cold and sweet

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• so let's just take any one for now
– and take a definition of the word coffee
• we could say
– it is a hot drink from beans grown in Colombia
» that is black in color and bitter in taste
• so let's think about the best case scenario
– here that would be that the entire world agrees upon one thing
– which is one definition of the word coffee
• now that still wouldn't be enough
– because take a situation where we have a robot
» and we want to teach this robot the meaning of the word
coffee

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• so we can program this robot and say okay
– here's the word coffee and this word means
• a hot drink from beans grown in Colombia that is black in color and
bitter and taste
– a robot would say okay great but there's one little problem
– I still need you to define for me
• the meaning of A
• the meaning of hot
• the meaning of drink
• the meaning of from
– Beans, black, Colombia, bitter, taste
– all of this

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• so we say fine
– we give the robot the meaning of the word hot
• as it is in the dictionary
– we go and give them the meaning of the word
• drink
• from
• beans
• black
– all of this
– now the meaning of the word drink for example involves more words
• to which the robot would reply :define those words to
– so we end up in a circular situation

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

– so we end up in a circular situation
• we want the definition of a word
– but the definition of a word is more words
» which also need their own definition
• this is a problem of circularity
– so we just talked about the fifth problem for the principle of compositionality
• and that was circularity
– What solution do we have for the problem of circularity?
• what if in defining the word coffee
– instead of defining it with words
» we defined it with code or numbers
– so we can assign the word coffee code 0110001
• like that we can assign the word gold another code
– which might involve a letter G 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1
» this way no two words would ever have the same exact meaning

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• this way no two words would ever have the same exact meaning
– and not only that we don't need to go back and also define the numbers
• now it's a bit more complex than that
– but for now this will do as an explanation for this class
• so why did we choose to define the word using code or numbers
– well because we want a language that would explain language
• but not be the same language
• you can't explain one thing with the same exact thing
– you need something else to use to explain the first thing
• so you need a language that is
– free from any individual differences
– free from any variable interpretation
• you don't want a language where each and every person would interpret it in their own
way
– this is why we come up with something called a meta-language
the use of code and numbers or algorithms is an example of a meta language

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

The Problem of Circularity

• and now to sum up
– the principle of compositionality came as a solution to explaining
productivity
• The principle of compositionality alone suffered some problems
– the first was a difference to in sentence meaning and speaker meaning
– The second was a difference between contextualized meaning and normal
meaning
– then there was the knowledge problem
• Which was of two type: the linguistic Knowledge and world knowledge
– then there were the individual differences
– and the last problem was a problem of circularity when we came to define
works
• The solution we came up with for circularity was
– the use of a meta-language and
• that sums up the idea of productivity and the principle of compositionality
with all its problems
Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language is Arbitrary
• Language is undoubtedly arbitrary
– as there is no inherent connection between the nature of things or concepts
• the speech deals with.
– However, those things and ideas are expressed,
• and there is no reason
– why different communities pronounce a ‘single term’ differently.
• A word was chosen to mean a specific thing or idea
– is arbitrary.
• It might be noticed that
– if a language had not been arbitrary,
» there would have been just a single language that remained
throughout the world.
• That is why we can consider language as an arbitrary vocal
symbol.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language is a Social Phenomenon
• In a sense, language should be considered a social phenomenon.
• Language is social in our human society;
– it is a means of nourishing and developing culture and establishing human
relations.
• As a member of a particular social group,
– we human beings interact with each other,
• allowing us to identify with one another
– and connect and coordinate with one another.
» This is how language is part and parcel of our society.
• Language exists in the public arena,
– is a method for feeding and creating a society,
• and sets up human relations.
• As a member of the community, we acquire a language permanently.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is A Symbolic System
• Language signifies a symbolic system,
– and it consists of different sound symbols
• for concepts, things, ideas, objects, etc.
– Language has sounds and words
» as their symbols.
• These symbols are picked and routinely acknowledged and utilized.
• The words in a language are not just patterns or images
– but symbols
• that denote meaning.
• The language uses words as symbols
– and not as signs for the concept represented by them.
• The core value of a language sometimes relies on
– the proper explanation of these symbols.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is Systematic
• Although the language is symbolic,
– its symbols are arranged in specific systems.
• All languages have their arrangement of plans,
– and each language is an arrangement of systems.
• Furthermore, all languages have phonological and syntactic systems,
– and within a system, there are also several sub-systems.
• For instance,
– we have the morphological and syntactic systems inside the linguistic system.
• Inside these two sub-systems,
– we have systems, such as plural, of mindset, or perspective, of tense,
etc.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is Vocal, Verbal And Sound
• Language is a system of vocal and verbal symbolism,
– and it is essentially comprised of vocal sounds
• just created by a physiological articulatory component in the human body.
• First and foremost, it shows up as vocal sounds only.
– Language takes verbal elements such as sounds, words, and phrases fixed up
in specific ways to make several sentences.
• Language is vocal and sound, which is produced by different speech organs.
• Writing can be considered as an intelligent platform to represent vocal sounds, and
it is the graphic representation of the speech sounds of the language.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language is Non-Instinctive (natural), Conventional
• No language was made in multi-day out of a commonly settled upon recipe
– by a gathering of people.
• Language is the result of advancement and tradition,
– and every age transmits this tradition onto the following.
• Like every human organization,
– languages may also change and pass on, develop and extend.
• Each language has a circulation in a particular community around the globe.
– However, we can consider language as non- instinctive because, naturally, it is
acquired by us.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is Productive And Creative
• Language has its efficiency and innovativeness.
• The auxiliary components of human language are joined
– to create new expressions
• that neither the speaker nor their listeners may have made or heard
previously.
– Honestly, the two sides comprehend without trouble.
• Language can be changed
– as indicated by the necessities of human society.
• After all, language has the power of productivity and creativity.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is A System Of Communication
• Language is strong, convenient, and the best form of communication
– and it is the best way to express everything.
• Through language,
– we human beings express our thoughts, desires, emotions, and feelings.
• Further, we can interact easily through the welfare of language.
• After all, we may say that
– language is the best communication system around the world.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is Human And Structurally Complex
• Human language is
– open-minded,
– extendable,
– and
– modifiable,
• contrary to animal language.
• Language should be modifiable from time to time.
• No species other than human beings have been endowed with language.
– So we can say that language is naturally human, structurally complex, and
modifiable in some cases.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
Topic:

Characteristics of Human Language and its relation to semantics

Language Is Unique, Complex, And Modifiable
• Language is indeed a unique phenomenon in the world.
• Every language has its characteristics and distinctive features.
• Furthermore, each language has its creativity and productivity to deliver the best
ways to communicate.
• And this is how language has the potentiality to be unique, complex, and
modifiable by the change of time and culture.

Course: Semantics ENG- 263-Instructor: Muhammad Asif Khan, Lecturer. Department of English,KUST—Email:arshiyan512@yahoo.com
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