Literal Meaning

Literal Meaning presents a detailed examination of meaning in language, focusing on the relationship between what words literally say and what speakers intend to communicate. François Recanati challenges traditional views about the divide between semantics and pragmatics. The book develops a systematic framework for understanding how context influences interpretation beyond the basic semantic content of sentences. Through analysis of real-world examples and theoretical arguments, Recanati demonstrates the role of pragmatic processes in determining truth-conditional content. Recanati engages with key debates in philosophy of language and linguistics, addressing questions about minimal propositions, context-shifting, and the nature of literal meaning itself. His arguments draw on cognitive science and contemporary pragmatic theory. The work represents a significant contribution to debates about meaning and interpretation, suggesting that the boundary between literal and non-literal meaning may be less rigid than previously assumed. This has implications for how we understand both everyday communication and formal semantic theory.

Readers value this book for its clear arguments against minimalist semantics and its defense of contextualism in meaning. Many students and academics note it provides a thorough critique of the literalist position. Positives from reviews: - Clear explanations of technical concepts - Strong examples and case studies - Comprehensive overview of key debates in semantics - Useful for both philosophy and linguistics students Common criticisms: - Dense technical language makes it challenging for beginners - Some sections are repetitive - Index could be more detailed - High price point for length Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (12 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (6 ratings) Specific comments: "Recanati systematically dismantles truth-conditional semantics" - Philosophy student review "The writing style requires close attention but rewards careful reading" - Linguistics professor review "Key arguments could have been made more concisely" - Graduate student review

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🔹 François Recanati developed his theory of "truth-conditional pragmatics" in this book, challenging the traditional divide between semantics and pragmatics that had dominated linguistic philosophy for decades. 🔹 The book directly confronts the views of influential philosophers like Donald Davidson and John Searle, offering a radical alternative to how we understand meaning in language. 🔹 Published in 2004, Literal Meaning became a cornerstone text in the contextualist movement, which argues that context plays a much larger role in determining meaning than previously thought. 🔹 Recanati is a Director of Research at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), and this book draws heavily on his experience bridging French and Anglo-American philosophical traditions. 🔹 The book's central argument about "meaning modulation" has influenced fields beyond linguistics and philosophy, including cognitive science and artificial intelligence development.