THEORIES OF MEANING

 Prof.Abdelhamid Fouda 

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Here, we will briefly discuss the theories concerned with semantics.

1. The Theory of Naming; This theory, explained in Plato‟s dialogue Cratylus maintains that language is a 

communication system which works with two elements; the signifier, and the signified. Plato says that the signifier is a 

word in the language and the signified is the object in the world that it „stands for‟ or „refers to‟. Thus, according to this 

theory words and things are directly related. Traditional grammar was based on the assumption that the word was the 

basic unit of syntax and semantics. The word was a „sign‟ composed of two parts, or components: the form (signifier) 

and its meaning (signified).

There are some difficulties with this view, however. Firstly, it seems to apply to some nouns only. You may locate the 

signified (object) which the signifier (word) „chair‟ refers to. However, there are some nouns which do not refer to 

objects in this world: examples are Unicorn and Raxsh (Rostam‟s special horse in the Iranian epic written by Ferdousi). 

Secondly, there are other nouns that do not refer to physical objects at all. Thus, what are the objects which love and 

hatred refer to? Thirdly, with a noun we can draw a picture of the object that is denoted (referred to). But this is 

impossible with verbs. How should we show run, hesitate, and annoy? The same problem remains regarding adjectives 

and adverbs, as well.

2. The Conceptual Theory of Meaning: In the theory of meaning, just explained, words and things are directly related. 

But in the conceptual theory of meaning words and things are related through the mediation of concepts of the mind. 

Ogden and Richards (1923) saw this relationship as a triangle: 

Thought (or Reference or Meaning or Concept)

the symbol = the linguistic element; the word, phrase, sentence

the referent = the object in the world

thought or reference = concept

Thus, according to this theory there is no direct link between the symbol and referent – the link is through reference 

or thought (our concepts). The problem with this view is that we do not precisely know the nature of the link or bond 

between symbol and concept.

The conceptual theory of meaning or mentalistic theory is maintained by Chomsky. He believes that intuition and 

introspection must play a crucial part in our investigation of language.

3. The Behavioristic Theory of Meaning: The term context of situation is used by two scholars, first by an 

anthropologist called Malinowski, and later by a British linguist called Firth. Both of these scholars stated meaning in 

terms of the context in which language is used. These two maintained that the description of a language is not complete 

without some reference to the context of situation in which the language operated. A more extreme view sees the 

meaning of the linguistic elements AS the situation in which the word is used. Bloomfield, the structuralist, maintained 

this behavioristic view. He explained his view through his famous account of Jack and Jill.

As we know, Bloomfield is a follower of Skinner‟s school of psychology called behaviorism. However, Skinner‟s 

model has been severely criticized by Chomsky, a proponent of the conceptual theory of meaning.