Syntactica

Semantica is the manual for a new software application that allows the user to explore the semantic structure of language in an interactive way. The program, which complements Syntactica, is a tool for studying natural language syntax.

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Semantica is the manual for a new software application thatallows the user to explore the semantic structure of language in anengaging, interactive way. The program, which was produced as part ofa National Science Foundation initiative for improving linguisticsinstruction, is designed to be used with Syntactica, a tool for studying natural language syntax. Semanticaprovides a simple graphical interface for creating semantic theories,viewing the truth conditions that those theories assign to phrase-markerscreated in Syntactica, and for testing those truth conditions in apictorially represented world. Although designed for use inintroductory semantics courses, Semantica has features that willappeal to professionals. For example, it can be used as a "derivationcalculator" in following out complex semantic derivations involvingmany steps and operations.Manual plus NeXTStep software for PCs and NeXTStationsrunning NeXTStep version 3.2 or higher.