Modelling Behaviour Semantically

摘要

Context is only one of several strata of meaning and we can not predict realisation at the lexical or grammatical level from context alone. Yet, there is a tendency to confuse contextual patterning with semantic patterning and allocate patterning to the contextual level that might better be dealt with on other levels. While much work has been done on theorising lexis and grammar and, more recently, on seeing these in context, much remains to be done on theorising semantics as a separate level mediating between context and lexis and grammar. This paper examines the problem of modelling behaviour and the challenge of understanding behaviour in context as well as on a semantical level. By understanding the descriptive responsibilities allocated to each level of language, we are better able to see what remains to be covered by context within a model.