Sources of Meaning: Grounding Formal Semantics

Projektinformationen

ORISEM

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 788077

DOI 10.3030/788077

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 12 September 2018

Startdatum 1 Mai 2019

Enddatum 31 Oktober 2025

Finanziert unter

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC)

Gesamtkosten € 2 499 416,00

EU-Beitrag € 2 499 416,00

Koordiniert durch

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS
France

Ziel

While formal semantics has established itself as a rigorous field, its impact on the broader cognitive sciences has remained suboptimal. Besides the inherent complexity of formal theories, the reason might be that the data explained are narrowly linguistic. We propose to extend the breadth and explanatory depth of formal semantic theories by testing them against understudied objects. Within language, we study spoken language gestures as well as sign languages, especially in their iconic dimension. Beyond language, we investigate primate gestural and vocal communication, and semantic effects in music. Our goal is threefold. First, we investigate how the typology of semantic operations extends to these new objects. Second, we explore the cognitive underpinnings of these operations in two types of cases: when the extension of a rule to a new type of object provides new constraints on the form of this rule (e.g. the existence of a presupposition triggering mechanism in iconic constructions); and when an expression has cognitive uses beyond language (e.g. raised eyebrows, or increased loudness). Third, we explore possible evolutionary connections among operations found in speech, sign, human and non-human gestures, and music. We will (i) explore gestural counterparts of formal semantic operations found in sign language, (ii) investigate how the rich typology of inferences uncovered by semantics extends to iconic gestures, and (iii) conduct a comparative investigation of this typology for iconic vs. non-iconic inferences in sign language. We will (iv) extend the enterprise beyond humans by exploring how a particular operation, implicatures, extends in animal linguistics, and whether human gestural expressions have counterparts in apes; and we will (v) develop a generalization of iconic semantics that accounts for semantic effects in music. Empirical findings will help develop new theories of how specific inferences (e.g. presuppositions, focus) are triggered.

Wissenschaftliches Gebiet

• natural sciences › biological sciences › zoology › mammalogy › primatology
• humanities › languages and literature › linguistics › sign language
• social sciences › psychology › cognitive psychology

Schlüsselbegriffe

• formal semantics
• pragmatics
• formal semantics of sign languages
• formal semantics of gestures

Programm/Programme

• H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme

Thema/Themen

• ERC-2017-ADG - ERC Advanced Grant

Aufforderung zur Vorschlagseinreichung

ERC-2017-ADG

Finanzierungsplan

ERC-ADG - Advanced Grant

Gastgebende Einrichtung

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS

• Netto-EU-Beitrag: € 2 499 416,00
• Adresse: RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 ; 75794 Paris ; Frankreich
• Region: Ile-de-France › Ile-de-France › Paris
• Aktivitätstyp: Research Organisations
• Gesamtkosten: € 2 499 416,00

Begünstigte (1)

CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS

Frankreich

• Netto-EU-Beitrag: € 2 499 416,00
• Adresse: RUE MICHEL ANGE 3 ; 75794 Paris
• Region: Ile-de-France › Ile-de-France › Paris
• Aktivitätstyp: Research Organisations
• Gesamtkosten: € 2 499 416,00