Denotación

En filosofía y lingüística , ^{[ 1 ]} la denotación de una palabra o expresión es su significado estrictamente literal. Por ejemplo, la palabra inglesa "warm" denota la propiedad de tener alta temperatura. La denotación se contrapone a otros aspectos del significado, en particular la connotación . Por ejemplo, la palabra "warm" puede evocar calma, comodidad o amabilidad (como en la calidez de la personalidad de alguien), pero estas asociaciones no forman parte de la denotación de la palabra. De manera similar, la denotación de una expresión es independiente de las inferencias pragmáticas que pueda provocar. Por ejemplo, describir algo como "warm" a menudo implica que no está caliente, pero esto, una vez más, no forma parte de la denotación de la palabra.

La denotación desempeña un papel fundamental en diversos campos. En semántica y filosofía del lenguaje , se estudia como un aspecto importante del significado . En matemáticas e informática , la asignación de denotaciones a expresiones es un paso crucial para definir lenguajes formales interpretados . La principal tarea de la semántica formal es reconstruir el sistema computacional que asigna denotaciones a las expresiones de los lenguajes naturales .

En semántica lingüística

En la semántica del lenguaje natural , las denotaciones se conciben como los resultados del componente semántico de la gramática. Por ejemplo, la denotación de la palabra "azul" es la propiedad de ser azul, y la denotación de la palabra "Barack Obama" es la persona que lleva ese nombre. Las frases también tienen denotaciones que se calculan según el principio de composicionalidad . Por ejemplo, la frase verbal "aprobó la clase" denota la propiedad de haber aprobado la clase. Dependiendo de la teoría semántica particular, las denotaciones pueden identificarse con las extensiones de los términos , las intensiones u otras estructuras como los potenciales de cambio de contexto . ^{[ 2 ]}^{[ 3 ]}^{[ 4 ]}^{[ 5 ]}

When uttered in discourse, expressions may convey other associations which are not computed by the grammar and thus are not part of its denotation. For instance, depending on the context, saying "I ran five miles" may convey that you ran exactly five miles and not more. This content is not part of the sentence's denotation but rather pragmatic inferences arrived at by applying social cognition to its denotation.^[2]

Denotation, meaning, and reference

Linguistic discussion of the differences between denotation, meaning, and reference is rooted in the work of Ferdinand de Saussure, specifically in his theory of semiotics written in the book Course in General Linguistics.^[6] Philosophers Gottlob Frege and Bertrand Russell have also made influential contributions to this subject.^[7]

Denotation and reference

Although they have similar meanings, denotation should not be confused with reference.^[8] A reference is a specific person, place, or thing that a speaker identifies when using a word.^[6] Vocabulary from John Searle's speech act theory can be used to define this relationship.^[9] According to this theory, the speaker's action of identifying a person, place, or thing is called referring. The specific person, place, or thing identified by the speaker is called the referent. Reference itself captures the relationship between the referent and the word or phrase used by the speaker. For referring expressions, the denotation of the phrase is most likely the phrase's referent. For content words, the denotation of the word can refer to any object, real or imagined, to which the word could be applied.^[2]

Denotation and meaning

In "On Sense and Reference", philosopher Gottlob Frege distinguished so-called Sinn, translated as sense, from Bedeutung, translated as reference or denotation when he evaluated words like the German "Morgenstern" and "Abendstern".^[6] The translations of the German terminology differ, as past translators have proposed meaning to refer to Sinn as well as Bedeutung, with a strong contemporary preference to interpret meaning as a possible translation of Bedeutung. ^[10] Author Thomas Herbst uses the words "kid" and "child" to illustrate the same concept.^[6] According to Herbst, these two words have the same denotation, as they have the same member set; however, "kid" may be used in an informal speech situation whereas "child" may be used in a more formal speech situation.

In other fields

In computer science, denotational semantics is contrasted with operational semantics.
In media studies terminology, denotation is an example of the first level of analysis: what the audience can visually see on a page. Denotation often refers to something literal, and avoids being a metaphor. Here it is usually coupled with connotation which is the second level of analysis, being what the denotation represents.

References

↑On the history of the concept see Umberto Eco, "Signification and Denotation from Boethius to Ockham", Franciscan Studies, Volume 44, 1984, pp. 1-29.
123Kroeger, Paul (2019). Analyzing Meaning. Language Science Press. pp. 21–22, 172–173. ISBN 978-3-96110-136-8.
↑Coppock, Elizabeth; Champollion, Lucas (2019). Invitation to Formal Semantics(PDF). Manuscript. p. 43.
↑Heim, Irene; Kratzer, Angelika (1998). Semantics in Generative Grammar. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell. p. 14.
↑Nowen, Rick; Brasoveanu, Adrian; van Eijck, Jan; Visser, Albert (2016). "Dynamic Semantics". In Zalta, Edward (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
1234Herbst, Thomas (2010). English linguistics : a coursebook for students of English. Walter de Gruyter & Co. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. ISBN 978-3-11-021548-9. OCLC 710790467.
↑Makin, Gideon (2000). The metaphysicians of meaning : Russell and Frege on sense and denotation. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-24267-X. OCLC 52111256.
↑Trask, R. L. (2007). Language and Linguistics: The Key Concepts. Peter Stockwell (Second ed.). Abingdon [England]: Routledge. pp. 51, 66–67. ISBN 978-0-415-41358-9. OCLC 75087994.
↑Searle, John R. (1969). Speech acts : an essay in the philosophy of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-17343-8. OCLC 818781122.
↑According to M. Beaney (ed., The Frege Reader, Oxford: Blackwell 1997, p. 36) 'the decision was taken at a meeting in the early 1970s attended by Michael Dummett, Peter Geach, William Kneale, Roger White and a representative from Blackwell. The translation of Bedeutung by 'meaning' was unanimously agreed after lengthy discussion'.

External links

Semiotics for Beginners
VirtuaLit Elements of Poetry (archived)

[1] On the history of the concept see Umberto Eco, "Signification and Denotation from Boethius to Ockham", Franciscan Studies, Volume 44, 1984, pp. 1-29.

[:0-2] 123Kroeger, Paul (2019). Analyzing Meaning. Language Science Press. pp. 21–22, 172–173. ISBN 978-3-96110-136-8.

[3] Coppock, Elizabeth; Champollion, Lucas (2019). Invitation to Formal Semantics(PDF). Manuscript. p. 43.

[4] Heim, Irene; Kratzer, Angelika (1998). Semantics in Generative Grammar. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell. p. 14.

[dynsemsep-5] Nowen, Rick; Brasoveanu, Adrian; van Eijck, Jan; Visser, Albert (2016). "Dynamic Semantics". In Zalta, Edward (ed.). The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 2020-08-11.

[:1-6] 1234Herbst, Thomas (2010). English linguistics : a coursebook for students of English. Walter de Gruyter & Co. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. ISBN 978-3-11-021548-9. OCLC 710790467.

[7] Makin, Gideon (2000). The metaphysicians of meaning : Russell and Frege on sense and denotation. London: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-24267-X. OCLC 52111256.

[:02-8] Trask, R. L. (2007). Language and Linguistics: The Key Concepts. Peter Stockwell (Second ed.). Abingdon [England]: Routledge. pp. 51, 66–67. ISBN 978-0-415-41358-9. OCLC 75087994.

[9] Searle, John R. (1969). Speech acts : an essay in the philosophy of language. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-1-139-17343-8. OCLC 818781122.

[10] According to M. Beaney (ed., The Frege Reader, Oxford: Blackwell 1997, p. 36) 'the decision was taken at a meeting in the early 1970s attended by Michael Dummett, Peter Geach, William Kneale, Roger White and a representative from Blackwell. The translation of Bedeutung by 'meaning' was unanimously agreed after lengthy discussion'.

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