MODULE SPECIFICATION TEMPLATE
MODULE DETAILS
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Meaning, Truth and Use
LQM22
20
Level 4
Level 5
Level 6
Level 0 (for modules at foundation
level)
Level 7
X Level 8
Entry criteria for registration on this module
Pre-requisites
None
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codes or equivalent
Co-requisite modules
None
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codes or equivalent
Module delivery
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Taught
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Placement
Pattern of delivery
Weekly
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Block
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When module is delivered
Brief description of
module content and/ or
aims
Overview (max 80 words)
Module team/ author/
coordinator(s)
School
Site/ campus where
delivered
Online
Semester 1 X
Semester 2
Throughout year
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This module predominantly focuses on the work of Grice. It
investigates the complexities and intricacies of his work both in
relation to his theory of conversation and his theory of meaning,
which was a part of a much larger programme on reasons,
reasoning and rationality. Meaning for Grice was to be understood
in terms of propositional attitude psychology: the meaning of words
was to be analysed in terms of their beliefs, desires and intentions
of communicators who uttered them. Students will have
opportunities to examine how the work of Grice differs to other
philosophers of language.
Dr Jelena Timotijevic; Ken Turner
Humanities
Falmer
Course(s) for which module is appropriate and status on that course
Course
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Status (mandatory/ compulsory/
optional)
MA Linguistics
MA English Language
MA Philosophy of Language
MRes Linguistics
Compulsory
Compulsory
Compulsory
Optional
MODULE AIMS, ASSESSMENT AND SUPPORT
Aims
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Learning outcomes
Give students an opportunity to develop an in-depth and
analytical understanding of linguistic, philosophical and
logical theories that investigate meaning and truth in
natural language
Provide students with an intellectual context to develop
critical approaches to, and undertake analysis in,
elaborate theoretical perspectives to studying use in
natural language.
Examine and critically evaluate how linguistic,
philosophical and logical tools contribute to the analysis
of meaning and use for a selection of natural language
constituents and constructions
In relation to the QAA Framework for Higher Education
Qualifications and the SEEC level descriptors for M level study,
by the end of the module students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate and ability to critically evaluate complex and
often counter intuitive theoretical concepts that can be
employed to analyse meaning, truth and use of language
2. Demonstrate a critical understanding of current research
literature related to the study of linguistic meaning, logical
truth and natural language use
3. Demonstrate an ability to identify and examine a range of
controversies related to truth and use in the context of
meaning in language
4. Demonstrate an ability to apply the above concepts to
analysing natural language with uniqueness and creativity
Content
Learning support
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Conventionality
Cooperative principle
Meaning, implicature
Natural and non-natural meaning
Pragmatics
Propositional attitudes
Truth and natural language; logical truth
Theory of mind
Campbell, J. K. O’Rourke, M. and Shier, D. eds. (2002) Meaning
and Truth: Investigations in Philosophical Semantics.
New York/London: Seven Bridges Press.
Grice, P. (1989) Studies in the Way of Words. Cambridge,
Mass: Harvard University Press.
Grice, P. (1991) The Conception of Value. Oxford: Oxford
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
University Press.
Grice, P. (2001) Aspects of Reason. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
Murasugi, K. and Stainton, R. eds. (1999) Philosophy and
Linguistics. Boulder, Colorado: Westview Press.
O’Rourke, M. and Washington, C. eds. (2007) Situating
Semantics: Essays on the Philosophy of John Perry.
London: MIT Press.
Predelli, S. (2005) Contexts: Meaning, Truth and use of
Language. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Richard, M. (2008) When Truth Gives Out. Oxford: Oxford
University Press.
Saka, P. (2007) How to Think about Meaning. Dordrecht:
Springer.
Journals:
Mind and Language
Linguistics and Philosophy
Journal of Semantics
Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/pragmatics/
Pragmatics and speech acts
http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/lang/pragmatics.htm
Other: Current Research in the Semantics/Pragmatics Interface.
Teaching and learning activities
Details of teaching and
learning activities
Contact Time: Lectures and tutorials
Non-contact Time: Directed reading
Allocation of study hours (indicative)
Where 10 credits = 100 learning hours
Study
hours
SCHEDULED
20
This is an indication of the number of hours
students can expect to spend in scheduled
teaching activities including lectures, seminars,
tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations,
practical classes and workshops, supervised time
in workshops/ studios, fieldwork, external visits,
and work-based learning.
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
GUIDED INDEPENDENT
STUDY
All students are expected to undertake guided
independent study which includes wider reading/
practice, follow-up work, the completion of
assessment tasks, and revisions.
PLACEMENT
The placement is a specific type of learning away
from the University that is not work-based learning
or a year abroad.
180
TOTAL STUDY HOURS 200
Assessment tasks
Details of assessment
for this module
General criteria for assessment are framed by the SEEC
descriptors for M level. Against specific criteria, credit will be
awarded for:
1. Ability to to critically evaluate complex and often counter
intuitive theoretical concepts that can be employed to
analyse meaning, truth and use of language (LO1)
2. Critical understanding of current research literature
related to the study of linguistic meaning, logical truth and
natural language use (LO2)
3. Ability to to identify and examine a range of controversies
related to truth and use in the context of meaning in
language (LO3)
4. Ability to apply the above concepts to analysing natural
language with uniqueness and creativity (LO4)
All learning outcomes must be achieved in order to pass the
module at the threshold level.
Assessment will be in the context of the University of Brighton
Assessment Policy and the Faculty Code of Practice in
Assessment, and students will be required to complete the
following tasks:
Task 1 100%
Students submit one essay of 4,000 words which is a critically
reflective and independent analysis that addresses interaction of
meaning, truth and use of natural language
The task will be marked on a percentage basis. The module
pass mark is 50%.
Referral task: Reworking of original task
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Types of assessment task1
Indicative list of summative assessment tasks which lead to the award of credit
or which are required for progression.
WRITTEN
Written exam
COURSEWORK
Written assignment/ essay, report, dissertation,
portfolio, project output, set exercise
PRACTICAL
Oral assessment and presentation, practical skills
assessment, set exercise
%
weighting
(or indicate
if
component
is pass/fail)
100%
EXAMINATION INFORMATION
Area examination board
PG Programme Linguistics and English language
Refer to Faculty Office for guidance in completing the following sections
External examiners
Name
Position and institution
Date appointed
Date
tenure
ends
Prof. Daniel Kadar
Professor of Linguistics
and English language, Uni.
of Huddersfield
1st Jan. 2015
31st Dec.
2019.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
Date of first approval
Only complete where this
is not the first version
2009
Date of last revision
Only complete where this
is not the first version
2009
Date of approval for this
version
Version number
2
Modules replaced
n/a
1 Set exercises, which assess the application of knowledge or analytical, problem-solving or evaluative skills, are included
under the type of assessment most appropriate to the particular task.
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Specify codes of modules
for which this is a
replacement
Available as free-standing module?
Module descriptor template: updated Aug 2012
Yes
X
No