For the whole of the last half-century, most theoretical syntacticians have assumed that knowledge of language is different from the tasks of speaking and understanding. There have been some dissenters, but, by and large, this view still holds sway. This book takes a different view: it continues the task set in hand by Kempson et al (2001) of arguing that the common-sense intuition is correct that knowledge of language consists in being able to use it in speaking and understanding. The Dynamics of Language argues that interpretation is built up across as sequence of words relative to...

The papers in this collection present a view of language as an evolving system within which flexibility is systemic and subject to progressive change, driven by pressures of every-day coordinative action as in conversational dialogue. As these papers demonstrate, these pressures provide a force for variation, hence for adaptation, and change. Topics covered include formal and game-theoretical models of evolution, diachronic studies of change (semantic, syntactic, lexical) and the role of dialogue factors in promoting such change, psycholinguistic experimental methods probing the nature of...

Presents a general introduction to semantics, including the most recent developments.

AIMS AND ORGANISATION OF THE PRESENT REPORT This document is a report on the state of Cognitive Science research in the European Economic Community. Since Cognitive Science is a young discipline, we have taken part of our task to be an exposition of its goals, methods and progress, and of its significance for technology. Subsequent to this exposition we survey the intellectual resources devoted to Cognitive Science research within member nations of the EEC. Specific proposals for the advancement of the discipline in Europe are also formulated. In more detail, the six chapters comprising the...