默认语义学对语义学、语用学界面的研究及其评价

Book Review: Default Semantics

本文阐释K.M.Jaszczolt提出的对语义/语用界面研究的一种新的解释理论——默认语义学。该理论认为语言交际的意图性就是语言表达式的指称性。语义的确立是默认推理的结果,默认推理是交际者根据交际意图的类型和强弱,即指称性的强弱而进行的自动推理,是对意图识别的结果,并非对语境的选择。由此认为,语言的意义是动态的统一体,并不存在语义/语用的界面分歧。该理论被用于解释存在于限定摹状词、预设表达式、否定、连接词、数词等方面的语义含混现象。最后,本文对其解释作用做出了相应的评价,指出该研究在理论的实证性、分类依据以及普遍性方面仍有待深入研究。

This paper is to introduce a new theory of explaining the semantics/pragmatics interface——default semantics, by K. M. Jaszczolt. In the theory, intentionality in communication is understood as the referentiality of linguistic expressions. The establishment of semantic meanings is the result of default reasoning, which is automatic based on intentions （referentiality） in communication with various types and strengths. Fixing on a semantic meaning is not the process of selecting context but identifying primary intention, with dynamic and unitary semantic meaning. There is no semantics/pragmatics boundary dispute. The theory is applied to explain such semantic ambiguities as in definite descriptions, presupposition expressions, negation, sentential connectives and number terms. Finally, the paper tries to comment on the theory and points out that further empirical research on principles of categorization and universality of this theory is needed.