Siegfried J. Schmidt

Formal semantics and pragmatics for natural languages

Conditionals, Generic Quantifiers, and Other Applications of Subgames.- Ambiguous Coreference With Quantifiers.- Negative Coreference: Generalizing Quantification for Natural Language.- Syntactic Domains for Semantic Rules.- Variable Binding and Relative Clauses.- Adverbs of Space and Time.- Time Schemes, Tense Logic and the Analysis of English Tenses.- A System of Chronological Tense Logic.- Semantics versus Pragmatics.- Implication Reversal in a Natural Language.- Structure and Function of the Grammatical Component of the Text-Structure World-Structure Theory.- Questions and Answers in a Context-dependent Montague Grammar.- The Introduction of Truth Predicates into First-Order Languages.- List of Participants.

On the role of conventions in understanding literary texts

Abstract On the basis of the empirical science of literature and new results of text processing research five hypotheses are developed. They concern the role of the polyvalence convention while understanding literary texts. The results of the pilot study indicate the existence of polyvalent discourse processes, but they also point to the necessity of further research to look for the influence of different literary texts on cognition.

Medienentwicklung und gesellschaftlicher Wandel

Alle Uberlegungen zur Anlage und Durchfuhrung einer Mediengeschichte (genauer: von Mediengeschichten) mussen sich begrundet auf bestimmte Konzeptionen von ‘Medium’ und ‚Geschichte‘ einlassen. Ich beginne mit dem Medienbegriff.

Die Wirklichkeit des Beobachters

Immer wenn Medienskandale die Offentlichkeit beschaftigen — sei es das Gladbecker Geiseldrama, die Barschel-Affare oder der Golfkrieg -, wird auch einem breiten Publikum bewust, das die Sicherheit der Fakten prekar ist. Was ist Wirklichkeit, was Luge oder Fiktion? Wer sagt die Wahrheit, wer verschleiert sie? Transportieren Fernsehbilder Abbilder der Wirklichkeit in unsere Wohnzimmer oder inszenieren sie Wirklichkeit(en)? Welche Rolle spielen Reporter und Journalisten als „Beobachter der Wirklichkeit“, welche Funktion kommt Beobachtungsinstrumenten wie Fotoapparat und Fernsehkamera zu?

Fictionality in literary and non-literary discourse☆

Abstract This paper deals with epistemological and discourse-theoretical aspects of a theory of fictionality which tries to realize research principles like interdisciplinarity, discourse-orientation, and empiricity. Presupposing H.R. Maturanas biology of cognition it is argued that there is neither such a thing as “the” reality nor such a thing as “the” meaning as ontological givens. Instead a theory of fictionality must realize that people construe their world-models and their meaning-syndroms according to their biological equipment, their processes of socialization, and their biographical preconditions as well. Consequently fictionality must be treated as a phenomenon of conventional acting conditions on the level of discourses. ‘Fictionality’ names a relation between semantic units (like discourse elements and discourses as a whole) and the state of the world-model a linguistic agent holds to be true in his social group at a certain time. The problem solving perspectives of such fundamental assumptions with regards to common topics in the debate on fictionality is demonstrated in the rest of the paper.

Mediengattungen, Berichterstattungsmuster, Darstellungsformen

Im alltaglichen Umgang mit Medienangeboten aller Art stosen wir auf ein vertrautes Phanomen: Programmzeitschriften fur Funk und Fernsehen offerieren Krimis, Westernlegenden, Nachrichten und Kommentare; Buchladen ordnen ihr Sortiment unter Standorten fur Romane, Kochbucher, Hobby, Jagd und Wild; der Horfunk bietet Mittagsmagazin, Horspiel, Funkkolleg und Unterhaltung a la carte. Die Prasentation von Medienangeboten wie die Kommunikation uber Medienangebote kommt also offensichtlich nicht ohne Gattungsbezeichnungen aus; und die Kommunikationsteilnehmer wissen mit solchen Gattungsbeziehungen durchaus etwas anzufangen.

Empirical studies in literature: Introductory remarks☆

Abstract In the introductory notes some recent criticisms on empirical studies in literature are discussed. The main concern of this discussion is to refute plausibly such criticisms by clarifying wrong presuppositions of these arguments. Above all, it is argued against the suspicion that empirical studies in literature are positivistic, neglect the individual, are anti-historical, neglect normative problems, and fail to achieve the main task of literary scholars, viz. interpretation of literary texts. It is argued in favour of an empirical theory of LITERATURE, i.e. a complex social system of activities primarily focussing literary texts, in order to display insights into LITERATURE which may be used to recognise and to solve problems in this social system. Finally, the contributions to this issue are consulted with regard to the suggestions they can provide for the future discussion of empirical studies in literature.

On writing histories of literature. Some remarks from a constructivist point of view

Abstract The article starts with a review systematizing the basic problems of writing histories of literature in order to establish the vanishing point of the dilemma. This review is followed by a short discussion of these problems within the framework of an empirical study of literature. The third part of the paper concentrates on lines of convergence in recent historiographical discussions. Finally some proposals are made for writing literary histories within an empirical framework: (1) Literary history should be conceived of as a history of literary systems; (2) literary history should provide a history of media, and (3) literary history should seriously take into account aspects of application and applicability.

Werbung zwischen Wirtschaft und Kunst

An Literatur zur „Werbung“ besteht kein Mangel. Und doch findet man nur selten Arbeiten, die grosere Zusammenhange in den Blick nehmen.

Towards a constructivist theory of media genre

Abstract Up to now the discussion of genres has been oriented rather exclusively towards text-types in the literary-system, and its scope has mostly been typological. In contrast to these approaches this paper aims at a systematic explication of the notion of genre in a science of the media on a constructivist epistemological basis conceiving of genres in terms of cognitive concepts. A constructivist theory of genre concentrates on functions, it strives for homogeneous argumentation, and it tries to establish a general theory of media genres which is able to explain the function of genres in the media in general.