Introduction to semantics

Aims

Aims

The module aims to equip students with the basic conceptual and formal tools of semantics and to a lesser extent of pragmatics. Students will learn how to formulate limited hypotheses and test them using basic semantic tests. Expected outcomes are listed below.

Knowledge outcomes

At the end of this module you will understand:

• The distinction between different semantic levels (lexical, sentential, discoursal)
• The relationship between syntax and semantics
• The distinction between semantics and pragmatics
• The relationship between words, concepts, and things/facts (sense, reference, extension/intension)
• The importance of entailment and the distinction between entailment, presupposition and inference
• The importance of truth and truth conditions
• The importance and function of a formal metalanguage
• Basic logical and set-theoretic concepts, operations and notation

Behavioural outcomes

You will be able to:

• Distinguish between semantic anomaly and ungrammaticality
• Apply semantic tests for entailment, implication and presupposition
• Evaluate predicate logic formulae
• Translate sentences of English into logic (and, to a lesser extent, vice-versa)
• Write basic set-theoretic formulae
• Construct a model
• Identify well-formed formulae in propositional and predicate logic

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this module.

Programme

Programme

Teaching programme

Autumn

Weeks 2-5

The questions of semantics

Weeks 7-10

The methods of semantics

Spring

Weeks 2-5

Sentence inference and logic

Weeks 7-10

Issues in semantics and pragmatics

Summer

Bringing it all together and revision

Teaching materials

• Essential
  The main teaching in the module will be accompanied with a reading pack and lecture notes, which will be provided via the Virtual Learning Environment
• Recommended
  The following textbook is optional; it is designed for self-work and covers a large percentage of the material covered in term, and can be very useful for revision. However, we will diverge from it at several crucial points.
  • Hurford, J.R., Heasley, B. and Smith, M. B. (2007). Semantics: a coursebook (second edition). Cambridge University Press.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Formative assessment

Submission of formative assessment will be required for progression to further modules in this strand. This will include:

• Exercises in applying tests for entailment and presupposition
• Translation into logic
• Evaluation of formulae
• Model construction and the evaluation procedure
• Exercises in set theory
• Outlining implicature calculation

An obligatory class test will take place in Week 1 of Term 2.

Summative assessment

• A portfolio of exercises submitted throughout the module
  • Weight: 40%
•  A 90 minute closed exam
  • Date: Term 3, Weeks 5-7
  • Weight: 60%