Scribd
Upload
111 views23 pages

Lecture 1 (Introductory Class)

This document provides an introduction to the concepts of grammar, syntax, and semantics. It begins by defining grammar as "the rules in a language for changing the form of verbs and combining them into sentences." It then discusses how syntax focuses on the structure and order of words in sentences. Semantics is introduced as the study of meaning in language. Examples are given to illustrate the differences between syntax and semantics, showing how a sentence can be syntactically correct but semantically meaningless. The document emphasizes that while related, grammar/syntax and syntax/semantics are distinct concepts in the study of language. It concludes by asking students to follow the provided course outline.

Uploaded by

Amara SoOmro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
111 views23 pages

Lecture 1 (Introductory Class)

This document provides an introduction to the concepts of grammar, syntax, and semantics. It begins by defining grammar as "the rules in a language for changing the form of verbs and combining them into sentences." It then discusses how syntax focuses on the structure and order of words in sentences. Semantics is introduced as the study of meaning in language. Examples are given to illustrate the differences between syntax and semantics, showing how a sentence can be syntactically correct but semantically meaningless. The document emphasizes that while related, grammar/syntax and syntax/semantics are distinct concepts in the study of language. It concludes by asking students to follow the provided course outline.

Uploaded by

Amara SoOmro
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 23

Introduction TO GSS

LECTURE 1

AMARA AFTAB SOOMRO


General Introductory Session
My intro
My expectations
What will this course focus on? How is this course organized?
Your Intro
Your expectations
Mutual agreements
Introduction.

1. What is Grammar?
2. What is Syntax?
3. What is Semantics?
4. How they share a common ground?
5. How they differ from each other?
Defining Grammar: A Difficult and Complex
Task

We all know what Grammar is?


But,
It is difficult to tell what it is? .
ACTIVITY
THINK, THINK, THINK, and come up with your understanding on
what exactly the grammar means? What it is? What do you know about
grammar? In other words. Define/describe grammar!
So, it is really hard to find the definitions of Grammar or of a grammar. It is
much easier to find the one in a dictionary. And Heres the one from
dictionary.
Grammar is the rules in a language for changing the form of verbs and
combining them into the sentences.
SO, you look up into a dictionary, especially look into the definition of BUS.
So, probably you would find this,
Bus, a larger vehicle carrying passengers on the road. . True enough! Whats wrong with it?
It doesnt tell you what it is for?
Exactly, that definition of grammar, the rules in a language changing form of verbs and combining
them into sentences. Is True, but it doesnt tell what it is for? It doesnt tell why we need Grammar?
If we do, Here, is another question for you to think about is Do languages need grammar? If yes
so? Why they need grammar?
Its actually a very difficult answer. But, equally it is important
to understand why languages do need it. Not just so that you
can express your thoughts and communicate your meaning.
But, what kind of meanings cant we communicate without it?
And what exactly is it needed for?
SYNTAX.

Syntax is all about the structure of sentences, and it


determines which words go where. Studying syntax allows
us to define descriptive rules about how language actually
works. It is the aim of syntacticians to find out the
factors involved in grammar.
Grammar v/s Syntax

Is about the rules and structure governing the Is mainly about the order of words in a
construction of sentences, clauses, phrases sentence.
and words in languages.

Grammar includes orthography, morphology Falls under the Grammar.


and Syntax.
A most general term use in everyday use. A discipline of linguistics.
Example 1:
Cried she sad because was she.

Example 2:
She cried because she was sad.
SEMANTICS

Semantics is a sub discipline of linguistics which focuses


on the study of meaning. Semantics tries to understand
what meaning is as an element of language and how it is
constructed by language as well as interpreted, obscured
and negotiated by speakers and listeners of language.
These are some of the questions that semantics tries to answer.

What is meaning?
How is meaning created in language?
How do people understand language and why do we understand it like we do?
SYTAX & SEMANTIC
(PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTINCTION)
LANGUAGE
The term Syntax and Semantics can apply to several different fields, including
linguistics, computer Science and philosophy of language.
There are some commonalities to the meanings of these terms in different
contexts and some differences as well, which we will explore here
SYNTAX
Syntax of a particular language is its grammar. They are the rules
of what kind of words , parts of languages, or Vocabulary you
can put in what order. In English, For example, you cannot simply
put four nouns together and call it a sentence. Horse bag tomato
teeth.
Just for particular string of Vocabulary is incorrect
syntax for one language, it does not mean that it is
incorrect for another. For example, Car on part
may be an incorrect syntax for English, but it is
correct syntax for French.
SEMANTICS
Semantics on the other hand refers to the meaning of the vocabulary
in a sentence. Just as languages have grammar and syntax, they have
semantics, or meaning. In English, it might be correct syntax to say
The puddle runs Greenland forcefully but there is no clear meaning
to those words. But it is incorrect semantics, Since it does not mean
anything.
However, Semantics that makes sense, or convey some meaning
does not require correct syntax. Many people that speak English
do not do so with perfect syntax, yet they are able to
communicate perfectly well.
Example: Me, I having the best time is not proper syntax, but
still you can understand what is meant by it.
One of the famous counter examples comes again from our man Noam
Chomsky. With the sentence. Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. Now this
is the sentence, syntactically well formed. Ideas is the noun, sleep is the verb,
this is an adverb, these are all modifiers that makes it noun phrase, but its not
clear what the meaning is? And people can try out some poetic interpretations
on this. You can imagine a sort of a prose of poetic way of reading this. But in
general, I can sort of all alter the sentence and make it still syntactically
correct. But semantically more and more contradictory. So, its really not clear
what this sentence means.
So it turns out that these two (Grammar
and Syntax) and (Syntax and Semantics)
are not the same thing.
For this course

PLEASE FOLLOW YOUR COURSE OUTLINE


Your Questions please!
Thank You !!

You might also like