Full Idea
The systematic study of meaning requires a framework for specifying the truth conditions of sentences on the basis of their syntactic structure, and the representational contents of their parts.
Gist of Idea
To study meaning, study truth conditions, on the basis of syntax, and representation by the parts
Source
Scott Soames (Philosophy of Language [2010], Intro)
Book Reference
Soames,Scott: 'Philosophy of Language' [Princeton 2010], p.1
A Reaction
Soames presents this as common sense, on the first page of his book, and it is hard to disagree. Representation will shade off into studying the workings of the mind. Fodor seems a good person to start with.