BEYOND THE LEXICON: A CONTEXT-DRIVEN APPROACH TO MEANING THROUGH SEMANTIC ROLES

Abstract

While the centrality of meaning in human communication is universally acknowledged, the field of semantics remains a contested area within linguistics, lacking a cohesive definition. This study addresses this gap by adopting the Principle of Extensionality as its theoretical framework to investigate the semantic roles of words in context. The research operates on the premise that language is a structured system of words facilitating communication among speakers. By applying technical role labels such as agent, theme, and instrument for analysis, this paper examines how words function within specific communicative contexts. The analysis confirms that while all lexical words possess inherent meaning, their social usage profoundly shapes and influences the efficacy of communication. The study concludes that a context-driven, extensional approach provides a valuable framework for understanding semantic functionality and its critical role in successful human interaction.