International Journal of Development in Social Sciences and Humanities

Semantics is the study of meaning involved in human language. To clearly demonstrate the relationship between semantics and language, we can picture it out like transportation. In this context, language is the vehicle that carries the semantics (meaning, thoughts and ideas) to the hearer. However, unlike the components of language (i.e.syntax, phonemes etc), semantics are abstract and is more closely related to one’s logical and cognitive experience. Considering this peculiar nature of semantics, various theories were developed in the purpose of determining how such “meanings” are derived. Because of the complexity, the study of semantics does not only limit on the linguistic field alone but encompasses other fields such as philosophy, physiology, neurology and even statistics. In this study, the theories involved in semantics are investigated and how each theory, although seems valid, yet were deficient to explain the true origin and nature of meanings. The theories are generally subdivided into two main categories: the conceptual and referential theories. The conceptual theory focuses primarily on the cognitive representations o f meaning. On the other hand, referential theory defines meaning as reference to facts or objects that can be observed in the outside world. Furthermore, this paper also explores the evidences in meanings and how the process is explained in scientifically and empirical way