Contexts: Meaning, Truth, and the Use of Language by Stefano Predelli
Book Description
Stefano Predelli comes to the defence of the traditional 'formal' approach to natural-language semantics, arguing that it has been misrepresented not only by its critics, but also by its foremost defenders. In Contexts he offers a fundamental reappraisal, with particular attention to the treatment of indexicality and other forms of contextual dependence which have been the focus of much recent controversy. Predelli shows how his metasemantic approach deals with a variety of important semantic and philosophical puzzles. He analyses the relationship between indexicality and logical validity, discussing well-known problem cases, and demonstrating the limits of token-reflexive systems. He investigates the relationships between truth-conditions and assignments of truth-values at particular points of evaluation, and shows that so-called contextualist worries do not undermine the traditional semantic approach. Finally, he shows that semantic befuddlement about the interpretation of attitude reports is based on an inadequate understanding of the scope of natural language semantics. Contexts will be of great interest to all philosophers of language, and to many linguists. (Amazon.com)

Theory of Mind and Language in Developmental Contexts
How we think and speak is a reflection of our shared cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. Theory of Mind and Language in Different Developmental Contexts blazes new trails in the study of the relationship between the theory of mind—that is, the ability to attribute mental states as the basis of behavior and social interaction—and language.
This volume examines the linguistic variables within developmental contexts, including:
- Different levels of analysis.
- Intercultural differences (e.g., Western, non-Western).
- Intracultural differences (e.g., socioeconomic status).
- Conditions of development as well as typical and atypical functions.
- Contexts of usage, including personal, social, and business interactions.
Each chapter focuses on issues and methodologies to provide a comprehensive overview of current studies on the relationship between the theory of mind and language. Data and working strategies are provided for clinicians, educators, and other mental health professionals. This volume is a must-have for developmental, cognitive, and clinical psychologists and researchers interested in the most up-to-date information on theory of mind and language.