<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Emma Borg has defined semantic minimalism as the thesis that the literal content of well-formed declarative sentences is truth-evaluable, fully determined by their lexico-syntactic features, and recoverable by language users with no need to access non-linguistic information. The task of this article is threefold. First, I shall raise a criticism to Borg’s minimalism based on how speakers disambiguate homonymy. Second, I will explore some ways Borg might respond to my argument and maintain that none of them offers a conclusive reply to my case. Third, I shall suggest that in order for Borg’s minimalism to best accommodate the problem discussed in this paper, it should allow for semantically incomplete content and be converted into a claim about linguistic competence.</p></abstract>

Emma Borg has defined semantic minimalism as the thesis that the literal content of well-formed declarative sentences is truth-evaluable, fully determined by their lexico-syntactic features, and recoverable by language users with no need to access non-linguistic information. The task of this article is threefold. First, I shall raise a criticism to Borg’s minimalism based on how speakers disambiguate homonymy. Second, I will explore some ways Borg might respond to my argument and maintain that none of them offers a conclusive reply to my case. Third, I shall suggest that in order for Borg’s minimalism to best accommodate the problem discussed in this paper, it should allow for semantically incomplete content and be converted into a claim about linguistic competence.

Minimal Semantics and Word Sense Disambiguation

Disputatio

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Minimal Semantics and Word Sense Disambiguation"}

Emma Borg has defined semantic minimalism as the thesis that the literal content of well-formed declarative sentences is truth-evaluable, fully determined by...

Minimal Semantics and Word Sense Disambiguation

Pubblicato online: 31 dic 2018

Pagine: 147 - 171

Ricevuto: 15 dic 2013

Accettato: 28 lug 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2014-0011

Parole chiave
Semantic minimalism, lexico-syntactic processing, literal meaning, word sense disambiguation, homonymy

© 2014 Luca Gasparri, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Minimal Semantics and Word Sense Disambiguation

Pubblicato online: 31 dic 2018

Pagine: 147 - 171

Ricevuto: 15 dic 2013

Accettato: 28 lug 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/disp-2014-0011

Parole chiaveSemantic minimalism, lexico-syntactic processing, literal meaning, word sense disambiguation, homonymy

© 2014 Luca Gasparri, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Parole chiave
Semantic minimalism, lexico-syntactic processing, literal meaning, word sense disambiguation, homonymy