Semantics
AN5004MA
Autumn 2013
Time:
Place:
Instructor:
Office:
Office hours:
Phone:
E-mail:
Wednesday 12.00 - 13.40
55.
Enikő Tóth
417.
Wednesday, 9.00 - 9.50
+3652512900/22116
toth.eniko@arts.unideb.hu
Course description:
Throughout the history of semantics there has always been a lack of empirical data in the
field. Recently, a new field of research has emerged under the name of experimental
semantics/pragmatics with the explicit goal to gather experimental data on semantic and
pragmatic issues by adopting methods developed in other fields, such as psycholinguistics
and neurolinguistics. After revising semantic notions that are crucial to oncoming
discussions, this course provides an introduction to different experimental approaches via
several case studies in order to enrich our insights into various topics in semantic and
pragmatic theory.
Assessment:
Attendance and active participation in class discussions are expected of all students. Grading
will be based on an end term test (40%), a take home essay (40%) and students’ participation
in discussions (20%).
Compulsory reading materials:
Luz, S. & I. Van der Sluis (2011) Production of Demonstratives in Dutch, English and
Portuguese Dialogues. In: Gardent, C. & K. Striegnitz (eds.), Proceedings of the 13th
European Workshop on Natural Language Generation. Association for Computational
Linguistics: 181–186.
Maienborn, C., Heusinger, K. & P. Portner (eds.) (2011) Semantics. An International
Handbook of Natural Language Meaning. Vol 1. Berlin/Boston: de Gruyter.
Liedtke, F. (2011) The impact of literal meaning on what-is-said. In: Meibauer, J. & M.
Steinbach (eds.), Experimental Pragmatics/Semantics. Amsterdam: John Benjamins:
43–62.
Politzer, G. (2007) The Psychological Reality of Classical Quantifier Entailment Properties.
Journal of Semantics 24(4): 345–371.
Riemer, N. (2010) Introducing Semantics. Cambridge: CUP.
Reading materials will be made available electronically.
Weeks
Week 0
Week 1
Week 2
Dates
11/09
18/09
25/09
Topics
Registration week
Semantics – the study of linguistic meaning
Meaning relations
Week 3
02/10
Meaning and context 1.
Week 4
09/10
Meaning and context 2.
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
16/10
23/10
30/10
06/11
Week 9
13/11
Week 10
Week 11
20/11
27/11
Week 12
4/12
Varieties of semantic evidence
National holiday
Consultation week
The application of experimental methods in
semantics 1.
The application of experimental methods in
semantics 2.
Case study 1: entailments
Case study 2: literal meaning and what is
said
Case study 3: deixis
Week 13
Week 14
11/12
18/12
End-term test
Summing up
Readings
Handbook Chapter 1
Riemer, N. (2010)
Chapter 5.1 and 6.6
Riemer, N. (2010)
Chapter 3
Riemer, N. (2010)
Chapter 4
Handbook Chapter 12
Handbook Chapter 15
Handbook Chapter 15
Politzer, G. (2007)
Liedtke, F. (2011)
Luz, S. & I. Van der
Sluis (2011)