Discourse Representation Theory (DRT)

Definition

Discourse Representation Theory (DRT) is a framework for understanding how the meanings of sentences in a discourse context are constructed and represented, focusing on the way information is structured in relation to the entities involved. DRT builds on traditional semantics by incorporating context and how it affects meaning, allowing for a more dynamic understanding of how language operates in communication, especially when it comes to anaphora and context-dependent references.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. DRT was developed to address limitations in classical logic when it comes to understanding natural language, particularly concerning how context influences meaning.
2. One key feature of DRT is the use of 'discourse representation structures' (DRS) which visually represent the entities and their relationships within the discourse.
3. DRT can effectively handle complex phenomena like presupposition and focus, as it allows for multiple layers of information to be represented.
4. The theory helps explain how different parts of a discourse relate to each other over time, making it easier to track shifts in focus or referents.
5. Extensions of DRT, like Segment Discourse Representation Theory (SDRT), introduce more sophisticated ways to manage how different segments of discourse interact and influence one another.

Review Questions

• How does Discourse Representation Theory enhance our understanding of sentence meaning compared to traditional semantics?
  • Discourse Representation Theory enhances our understanding of sentence meaning by integrating context into the analysis of language. Traditional semantics often focuses solely on the meanings of individual sentences without considering how they interact within a larger discourse. DRT introduces discourse representation structures that encapsulate entities and their relationships, allowing for dynamic tracking of reference and anaphora across multiple sentences.
• Discuss the role of discourse representation structures in Discourse Representation Theory and their significance for language interpretation.
  • Discourse representation structures are central to Discourse Representation Theory as they provide a visual framework for representing the various entities and their relationships in a given discourse. These structures enable linguists and researchers to analyze how information is introduced, maintained, or altered throughout a conversation or text. This representation is significant because it allows for clear tracking of references and changes in focus, helping to clarify how speakers construct meaning over time.
• Evaluate the impact of extending DRT with Segment Discourse Representation Theory on our understanding of discourse coherence.
  • Extending DRT with Segment Discourse Representation Theory significantly impacts our understanding of discourse coherence by providing tools to analyze how different segments of discourse interact with each other. SDRT introduces rules and frameworks that account for coherence relations between segments, such as explanation or contrast. This enriched model not only addresses individual sentence meanings but also considers broader narrative structures, leading to deeper insights into how coherence is achieved in communication.

Related terms

Anaphora: A linguistic term for a situation where a word or phrase refers back to another word or phrase earlier in the discourse, often involving pronouns.

Contextual Semantics: The study of how context influences the interpretation of meaning in language, including how speakers and listeners use contextual cues to derive meaning.

Situation Semantics: A theory that emphasizes the importance of specific situations in determining meaning, contrasting with more traditional views that focus solely on sentence-level semantics.