Theory of Semantics
Spring Term 2014
Course No.2201923
Course Meeting Time:5:00-8:00
Office Hours:Sun.,Mon.,Tue. 4:30-5:00
Instructor
Prof.Rajai R.AL-Khanji
Building
College of Arts,second floor.
Telephone
5355000.Extension:24778
E - mail
drrajaikhanji@gmail.com .
Course Description
In this course,we are going to examine/discuss some basic concepts,theories,and analytical techniques
used by contemporary semanticists in the study of meaning.Such concepts and theories are related to
both semantics and pragmatics.Among the major concepts to be studied in the course are,kinds and
representations of meaning,implicature and explicature,the pragmatics of what's given such as
presupposition,indexicality and deixis,propositional attitudes,complexities of referring
expressions,compositionality,meaning relations,meaning and cognition,meaning and language
comparison through translation,meaning and logic.Moreover,the practical part of the course includes
excercises in truth conditions,quantifiers,,argument structure,and meaning relations such as
paraphrase,contradiction ,incompatibility,…etc.
Course Goals and Objectives
The course aims to :
1. introduce students to the main aspects of semantics and pragmatics.
2. introduce students to the connections between semantics and psychology,anthropology,etc..
3. teach students different theoretical approaches and current debates in semantics.
4. introduce students to the styles of reasoning and argumentation in semantics.
Learning Outcomes.
By the end of semester, students shall be able to :
Knowledge.
1.Know how to interpret language in context and use language appropriately.
2.Know the syntagmatic delimitation of lexical units such as idioms,degrees of opacity,semantic
constituents,idioms and collocations.
3.Understand the nature of lexical relations such as synonymy,compatibility,incompatibility,partial
relations,…etc.
4.Appreciate the relationship between deixis and reference, on the one hand, and context on the other
Be able to explain the tenets of componential analysis, formal semantics, and cognitive semantics
Intellectual/Cognitive/Analytical Skills (Students should)
1.Develope an awareness of issues and problems which arise when conveying meaning through language.
2.Read about semantic theories and truth conditional account of meaning by using a simple compositional
formalism.
3.Identify the extended units of meaning through contextual information.
4.Gain experience with different aspects of semantic analysis and explore controversial topics with handson practical work.
Subject-Specific Skills (Students should)
1.Define basic concepts related to the semantics-pragmatics distinction.
2.Define different types of arguments to various sentences(Argument structure)
3.Translate sentences into first order logic
4.Analyze the meaning of basic expressions of natural language.
5. Be able to handle the translatability of certain culture –specific terms/expressions :English-Arabic.
Transferable Skills (Students should)
1.Demonstrate an ability to read international academic articles on the semantics of some world
languages known to students.
2.Make a distinction between metalanguage and object language(how meanings are described).
3.Conduct field research to support or disprove some semantic theories.
4.Demonstrate an ability to provide a critical assessment of claims,arguments,proposals in semantics.
Course Assessment
Evaluation
Mid-Term
Test Date
%
20%
Presentation 1
5%
Presentation 2
5%
Research Paper
30%
Final Exam
40%
Course Syllabus:The following is a general study plan,though we may
diverge slightly if class interest is captured around certain topics.
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Topic
Introduction
Pragmatics distinguished from semantics.Ecercises.
Excercises on pinning down semantics
A search for meaning.
Adjective meanings.Excercises.
Excercises.Truth conditions
Idioms and idiomaticity
Noun vocabulary.Excercises.
Excercises on getting inside sentences
Co(n)text.
Verbs and situations.
Excercises on meaning relations(1).
Words in usual collocations :delexicalisation.
Figurative language.
Excercises on meaning relations(2).
Phrases in context:relexicalisation.
Mid-term exam.
Some parts about tense and aspects with
excercises.
Things and events.
Variation,metaphor and semantic association.
Some parts about modality,scope and
quantification with excercises.
Quantifiers(1)
Punning,word play and other linguistic special
effects.
Pragmatics.Excercises.
Quantifiers(2)
Words and meanings.
Connecting utterances to the
background.Ecercises.
Arguments structure.
Lexical relations revisited(Cruse,unit 4))
Sets and functions with ecercises.
Taxonomies(Cruze,unit6)
Set operations .Ecercises.
Meronomics.(Cruse,unit 7)
Some special types of binary relation.
Opposites(Cruse,unit 9)
Functions.
Opposites and synonymy(Cruse,units 10;11 and 12
Revision
Readings
Griffths(G)
Gregory(GR)
Philip(P)
G;GR;P
G;GR;P.
G;GR;P
G.GR;P
G;GR;P.
G;GR;
G.GR;P.
G;GR;Cruse©
GR;C.
GR.C.
GR;C.
GR;C.
Required Textbooks:
Griffths,Patric.An Introduction to English Semantics and Pragmatics.Edinburgh
University Press.2006.
Philip,Gill.Colouring Meaning:Collocation and connotation in Figurative
Language.John Benjamins Publishing Company.2011.
Gregory,Howard.Semantics.Routledge,New York.2000.
Cruse,D.A. Lexical Semantics.Cambridge University Press.1986.
References:
Porter,Paul.What is Meaning.Blackwell Publishing.2005.
Lexical Pragmatics.Zuffery,Sandrine.John Benjamins Publishing Company.2010.
Kearns,Kate.Semantics.Palgrave Macmillan.2000.
Lobner,Sebastian.Understanding Semantics.Hodder Arnold.2002.
Partee,Barbara,Editor. Compositionality in Formal Semantics.Blackwell
Publishing.2004.
Saeed,John.Semantics,2nd edition.Blackwell Publishing.2003.
Riemer,Nick.Introducing Semantics.Cambridge University Press.2013.
Turner,Ken,Editor.The Semantics/Pragmatics Interface From Different Points of
View.Elsevier,Oxford.1999.
Lyons,J.Semantics(vol 1 and vol 2)Cambridge University Press.1977.
Palmer,F.R.Semantics-A new Outline.Cambridge University Press.1976.
Journals.The following are some
journals on semantics:
Journal of Semantics.Oxford University Press.
Journal of Web Semantics:Affiliated journal of the Semantic Web Science
Association(SWSA).
International Journal on Semantic Web and Information Systems(IJSWIS).
Some requirements for Course Credit
1.Reading Assignments:The reading material will be based on
textbooks,articles,lecture notes and students' presentations.The nature of such
readings is technical and therefore time-consuming.Moreover,semantic problems
will be assigned every week.
2.Term Paper:You will be required to turn in one-page term paper proposal
outlining your research plan as early as possible.
3.Presentations:You will be assigned to give two presentations.Your presentation
must provide your reaction to the topic you present.This means that you are
expected to provide a critical assessment of the argument,proposal,or claim in the
assigned article.Your one or two page reaction notes must be handed in prior to
discussing your presentation in class.
3.Class Attendance :Courtesy requires that you e-mail the course instructor by giving
prior notifications especially when you are assigned to give a presentation.In this
case you are required to coordinate with a classmate to substitute for you.
4.Class Participation:If you aim at getting a high grade in the course,you must not
expect to achieve this without your vigorous participation in class discussions.This
means that you are expected to listen for understanding,ask questions,raise
problems..etc.Therefore,do not rely mainly on getting a high grade without such
requirements in class participation.