Dynamic Semantics

Origin. Groenendijk, Stokhof, Veltman (1980s-90s). Meaning as context change. Anaphora resolution. Information update. Foundation of discourse semantics.

Models. Meaning = context change potential. Not truth conditions but update. Anaphora across sentences. Information states. Dynamic interpretation.

Formalism.

Context change potential: [[φ]]: context → context. Meaning is update function. Not static denotation. Dynamic interpretation.

Information states: σ: set of world-assignment pairs. ⟨w, g⟩ ∈ σ. g: variable assignment. Tracks discourse referents.

Update semantics: σ[[∃x.φ]] = ⋃_d σ[x↦d][[φ]]. Existential introduces referent. Available for later anaphora. Extends assignment.

Anaphora: "A man walked in. He sat down." ∃x.man(x) ∧ walked_in(x); sat_down(x). x bound across sentences. Dynamic binding.

DPL (Dynamic Predicate Logic): Groenendijk & Stokhof. Dynamic conjunction: φ; ψ. Sequential update. Existential scope extends.

Update with might (Veltman): σ[[might φ]] = σ if σ[[φ]] ≠ ∅, else ∅. Test, not update. Epistemic modality. Information-sensitive.

Presupposition: Presupposition = requirement on input context. Must be satisfied before update. Accommodation if not. Context manipulation.

Symbols.

Symbol	Unicode	Meaning
[[φ]]	—	update function
σ	U+03C3	information state
;	—	dynamic conjunction
[x↦d]	—	assignment update

Metatheory. Context change. Anaphora. Information states. Update semantics.

Applies to. Formal semantics. Discourse analysis. Anaphora. Presupposition.

Limitations. Complexity. Multiple frameworks. Static/dynamic interface. Pragmatics boundary.