There is no opposition between Formal and Cognitive Semantics

Abstract

Abstract 1. Introduction The history of modern semantics is characterised by two research traditions which are based on radically different views concerning both conceptual motivation and the purpose of semantic research. Realistic semantics conceives of semantics as characterising the relationsship between linguistic expressions and reality. In most cases this relationship is explicated by means of modeltheoretic concepts. The following quote from one of the founding fathers of realistic semantics clearly rejects a mentalist stance.