The Moscow Semantic School and the Polish School of Semantic Syntax : the metalinguistic reconnaissance

Abstract: The article, as reflected in the title, is an attempt to name the main similarities and differences between the theoretical ideas and the results of empirical research of the two most influential theoretical schools of semantics, i.e. the Moscow Semantic School (MSS) and the Polish School of Semantic Syntax (PSSS). The aim of the comparison is to make it clear that, in spite of a common epistemological ground, which lies in functionalism and an integrated approach to semantics and syntax, MSS and PSSS prioritize the problem of a complex description of the semantics of lexical units in a different way. MSS puts stress on the troubled relationship between semantics and lexicography, focusing on the lexicographical application of semantic analysis, while PSSS examines the sentence-forming formalization of the propositional structure within the scope of the explication of its components. The final conclusion is that, although it would be naive to assume that MSS and PSSS can work hand in hand, it would be reasonable to expect that they can learn from mutual experiences and inspire each other to improve the explanatory adequacy of research results, contributing to the theory of lexical semantics.