other · KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) · 2011
Compositionality
Pagin, Peter, Westerståhl, Dag
Cited by 0Open access
Abstract
This article is concerned with the principle of compositionality, i.e. the principle that the meaning of a complex expression is a function of the meanings of its parts and its mode of composition. After a brief historical background, a formal algebraic framework for syntax and semantics is presented. In this framework, both syntactic operations and semantic functions are (normally) partial. Using 20 the framework, the basic idea of compositionality is given a precise statement, and several variants, both weaker and stronger, as well as related properties, are distinguished. Several arguments for compositionality are discussed, and the standard arguments are found inconclusive. Also, several arguments against compositionality, and for the claim that it is a trivial property, are discussed, 25 and are found to be flawed. Finally, a number of real or apparent problems for compositionality are considered, and some solutions are proposed.
Cite this paper
Pagin, P., & Westerståhl, D. (2011). Compositionality. KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology).
Pagin, Peter, and Dag Westerståhl. “Compositionality.” KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology), 2011.
Pagin, Peter, and Dag Westerståhl. 2011. “Compositionality.” KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology).
Pagin, P. and Westerståhl, D. (2011) ‘Compositionality’, KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology).
@misc{pagin2011compositionality,
title = {{Compositionality}},
author = {Pagin, Peter and Westerståhl, Dag},
journal = {KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)},
year = {2011}
}Made from the index record. Check names, capitalisation and page numbers against the paper. Need another style? AI for Research has over 10,000.