Semantics

Aims

Aims

The course aims to introduce you to the study of meaning in natural language. It does so both by considering logical techniques that enter into the analysis of meaning in natural language and by looking at aspects of meaning that require appeal to context.

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

The course lasts for one term and is taught for three hours per week.

Teaching programme

The module consists of two parts. 

In the first part, we will cover the fundamental logical and mathematical tools, including propositional and predicate calculus, used in formal semantics of natural language. We will focus on the formalism that is required while at the same time gaining the appropriate level of understanding of key concepts pertaining to the organisation of meaning in natural language.

In the second part, we will consider the limitations of truth-conditional semantic frameworks for the holistic analysis of meaning. We will consider varieties of contextualism from a philosophical and linguistic point of view and look at more recent approaches to the study of meaning, including certain varieties of truth-conditional pragmatics.

Teaching materials

Teaching materials will be made available.

Assessment

Assessment

Formative work

• Formative dossier: assesses students’ ability to deal with basic concepts and techniques. 

Assessment

• Summative dossier: more analytical in nature