Review Article : 4 article

1. DESI NORI SAHPUTRI 

Title : Theories of Semantics: Merits and Limitation
 1: Saleh Mustafa Ramadan
 From : Al-Zaytoonah Private University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
2: Taleb I. Ababneh From : Irbid National University- Jordan, Irbid, Jordan.
Pages : 9

 A. Content
This discussion will cover some of the well–known theories of meaning formulated in the last century. Mainly referential theory of meaning, non– referential theory of meaning and generative grammarian theory of meaning are discussed. Some assumptions, merits and limitations for each theory are also described.

 B. Result/Finding
1. The Retential Theory of Meaning
Meaning as the Relationship between Words and Objects
Greek philosophers say that there is a relationship between words and objects. In other words, the best way of indicating the meaning of a word is to refer to the object represented by that word.
 Meaning as a Triangular Relationship
 The symbol is the spoken or written word; the reference is the information that the spoken or written shape of the word conveys to the reader/ hearer; and the referent is the thing or the object we talk about.
Bloomfield’s View of Meaning
Bloomfield (1933) stated that the context of situation was an essential part of meaning. He defined the meaning of a linguistic form as the situation in which the speaker utters it and the response which it calls forth in the hearer.

2. The Non–Referential Theory of Meaning
The non–referential approach as suggested by its name doesn’t take into consideration the context of situations or the reference in determining what meaning is. There is a relationship between language and the outside world because language doesn’t exist in vacuum. Therefore, this may indicate a weakness in this theory.

 3. The Generative Grammarian Theory
This approach was based on the assumption that syntactic rules operate independently of meaning. Chomsky and others believe that changing the active into passive structures does not change the meaning of the sentence.

 C. Strength and Weakness Strength : many explanation based on many experts, so it makes readers understand well about this theory. Weakness : althought based on many expert, explanatian is not enough clearly. Like example, not really much about it. So reader must be looking for other examples in other references.

 D. Conclusion The researcher has discussed the main principles of three well–known theories of meaning, namely the referential theory to meaning, the non–referential theory to meaning and the generative grammarian theory to meaning.