Tree Diagram Semantic Meaning and Interpretation

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3. Tree Diagram

Akmajian, Demers, Farmer, and Harnish 2001:172 state that tree diagram is encoded structural information of the linear order of words in a sentence, the categorization of words into parts of speech, and the grouping of words into structural continuents of the sentence. It is a list of structural properties that a phrase or sentence must conform to. In addition, Akmajian, et al 2001:183 states that tree diagrams phrase markers can represent a certain variety of structural and relational concepts. In a theory of syntax using phrase markers to represent syntactic structure, the explanation of the phenomenon of structural ambiguity is straightforward. An unambiguous sentence is associated with just one basic phrase marker, while a structurally ambiguous sentence is associated with more than one basic phrase marker. With a tree diagram, we have simplified the structure in the diagrams by using triangles for certain phrases rather than indicating the internal structure of the phrases. Tree diagram is a linguistic way to represent the grouping of a phrasesentence. In the case of ambiguity, tree diagram can be used to show or describe interpretations of an ambiguous phrasesentence.

4. Semantic Meaning and Interpretation

A language is often defined as a conventional system for conveying messages. Moreover, communication can be accomplished only because words have certain meanings Akmajian, et al, 2001:228. Hirst 1984:132 states PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI 13 I will exclude from semantic interpretation any consideration of discourse pragmatics; rather, discourse pragmatics operate upon the output of the semantic interpreter. Thus, semantic interpretation does not include the resolution in context of anaphors or definite reference, or of deictic or indexical expressions, or the recognition and comprehension of speech acts, irony and sarcasm, metaphor, or other nonliteral meanings. These exclusions should not be thought of as entirely uncontroversial; while few would advocate making speech act interpretation part of semantic interpretation, Moore argues that definite reference resolution, as well as certain local pragmatic matters, must be resolved during semantic interpretation. Semantics is the study of meaning abstracted away from those aspects that are derived from the intentions of the speaker. Semantic is different with pragmatics. Semantic interpretations are excluded from the speakerthe writer intended meaning. For example, in sentence “John kissed his wife, and so did Sam” http:cs.nyu.edu, the speaker intended to say that John kissed John’s wife, and Sam kissed Sam’s wife. In semantic, this sentence is ambiguous. It can be interpreted as John kissed his wife, and Sam kissed her too, John kissed Sam’s wife, and Sam kissed her too, or Sam and John kissed their own wife.

5. Semantic Theories of Ambiguity