Semantikstheorie
Semantikstheorie, or semantic theory, is a branch of linguistics that studies meaning in language. It aims to understand how words, phrases, sentences, and texts convey meaning and how this meaning is interpreted by speakers and listeners. Semantic theory encompasses various approaches, including formal semantics, conceptual semantics, and cognitive semantics. Formal semantics, influenced by logic and philosophy, uses mathematical tools to represent meaning, often focusing on truth conditions and logical structure. Conceptual semantics, developed by Ronald Langacker, views meaning as arising from conceptualization and cognitive structures, emphasizing the role of the mind in constructing meaning. Cognitive semantics, a broader field, explores how meaning is shaped by human cognitive processes, including metaphor, metonymy, and embodiment.
Key concepts within semantic theory include sense, reference, connotation, and denotation. Sense refers to the abstract