Semantics is a fascinating subject because it is cognition turning in upon itself. This
subject has also often seemed baffling with many different approaches to it. Semantics is also
an appealing subject because it is about how people make sense of each other linguistically
but it can be a frustrating area of study because it requires us to make sense of people and
what they have in mind. Semantics is also a wide subject within the general study of language.
An understanding of semantics is essential to the study of language acquisition and of language
change. In this sense we can quote Holliday (1994: xvii) who states: A language...is a system
for making meanings: a semantic system with other systems for encoding the meanings it
produces. The term 'semantics' does not simply refer to the meaning of words it is the entire
system of meanings of a language expressed by grammar as well as vocabulary. The study of
semantics includes the study of how meaning is constructed interpreted clarified obscured
illustrated simplified negotiated contradicted and paraphrased. The idea of this book on
semantics initially grew out for the above considerations. Moreover it will shed new light on
a subject whose problems and obscurities have seemed inexhaustible. Therefore it became
necessary or in other words crucially imperative to produce publish and provide students
and scholars with this treatise which may give an academic insight and practical approach.
