Semantics à la Grice

The aim in this part of the project is the construction of a semantics on the basis of Grice's theory of meaning. Grices analysis of "what is said" is often rejected on grounds that what is said cannot be determined compositionally from the lexical or conventional meaning of sentence constituents; contextual factors are needed to fill the gaps. From this it is concluded what is said cannot be the object of semantics. However, this conclusion can and should be resisted. "What is said" can be analysed as that which the speaker commits himself to. This characterization of semantics at the same time embodies a proposal as to where to draw the line between semantics and pragmatics.

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