Philosophy of Syntax

This book proposes an original treatment of quantification, and it formulates insightful general principles of syntactic analysis. Its main message is that categorical grammar is the most plausible framework for logical syntax of natural language.

Abstract In the chapter some preliminary methodological issues are discussed, including the demarcation between logic and linguistics and the shortcomings of empirical base of the theory of syntax. An epistemological approach to language is sketched out and a need for the proper balance between logical aspects of natural language and vernacular usage is claimed crucial for any reliable theory of syntax and - mantics. Learnability and efficiency are presented as the most important c- straints to be imposed upon a logical analysis of language. Keywords Linguistics, Logic, Methodology, Natural Language 1. 1 Epistemological Background of the Problem of Syntax Among central questions of epistemology two are the most fundamental: how language is related to the reality that we talk about in this language, and how one can rationally learn what this reality is like. Let us label these questions resp- tively 'the question of reference' and 'the question of method'. Certainly these two are very closely interconnected. Perhaps some solution to the problem of r- erence would solve the problem of method: the way in which language refers to reality would tell us how to verify the sentences of this language. But in general it can be otherwise. Equally imaginable is the case that we know what (e. g. which possible states of affairs) our sentences refer to but we do not know (scil. we c- not rationally justify our belief in this respect), whether they are true (scil.

A unique attempt to confront major claims of empirically motivated syntactic theory with foundational ideas of philosophical grammar Inspires the reader to rethink the position of syntax in the philosophy of language and in linguistics Draws new lines between syntax, semantics and pragmatics The first book to ground Categorial Grammar with Situation Semantics and facts about First Language Acquisition Provides the reader interested in natural language processing with a well-argued case for the need of implementing substantial 'world knowledge' and emulating pragmatic ambiguity resolution in machines

Klappentext

This book is intended as a preliminary work for a uniform description of language, especially overall organization and architecture of grammar and its connection with semantics. An array of general logical intuitions, concerning the initial requirements for building and interpreting compound expressions, stemming from Frege, Husserl and Ajdukiewicz, is spelled out to form a general framework, allowing for critical evaluation of today's leading paradigms, such as Generative Grammar, Montague Grammar or Type-Logical Grammar.

The main message of the book is that categorial grammar is not only one of the competing theories of syntax, but according to some general features is the most plausible framework for logical syntax of natural language. With profound motivation the book proposes an original treatment of quantification and formulates insightful general principles of syntactic analysis.

Inhalt
Syntax.- Semantics.- Categorial Analysis.- Conclusion.