Translational semantics: a discussion ofthe second edition of Geoffrey Leech'sSemantics: the Study of Meaning

  • Nigel Love Stellenbosch University

Abstract

It LS widely accepted that a description of a natural language should include an account of what it lS to know the meanings of its expresSlonS. What will be referred to here as 'translational semantics' is the idea that such an account can and ought to be provided in the form of translations of (or a system for translating) the expressions of the language under description into some chosen metalanguage. It is questionable whether (i) translational semantics is feasible, and if it is, (ii) whether it is useful.
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