University of Jordan
Faculty of Arts
1505732/Semantics
First semester 2005/2006
Instructor: Dr. Zahra Awad
Office: Faculty of Arts- Ground Floor
Office Hours: 3.00-4:00 Monday, Wednesday, Sunday 11-12
Phone: 5355000, #3426
Email: z.awad@ju.edu.jo
Course Objectives:
The course aims at introducing the theory of meaning in natural
languages. Emphasis will be on topics related to reference, deixis, and
paradigmatic sense relations: hyponymy, oppositeness, and syntagmatic
aspects of word meaning, ways of specifying word meaning,
componential analysis, conceptual approaches, lexical fields and
hierarchies.
Learning Outcomes:
Successful completion of this course should lead to the following learning
outcome
A. Knowledge and Understanding
1. know the various theories of semantics.
2. understand and be able to explain terms related to reference, deixis,
and paradigmatic sense relations
3. be able to discuss and explain concepts related to hyponymy,
oppositeness and syntagmatic aspects of word meaning
4. know ways of specifying word meaning, componential analysis,
conceptual approaches and lexical fields and hierarchies.
B. Intellectual and analytical skills
1. be able to use appropriate analytical skills to specify the meaning of
words, phrases and sentences.
2. be able to use semantic theories to explain knowledge of word
meaning, phrase meaning and sentence meaning.
3. be able to perform componential analysis and to identify lexical
fields of different words.
C. Practical Skills
1. be able to use semantic knowledge in different communicational
situations.
2. to appropriately use semantic knowledge in choosing words, phrases
and sentences for effective communication.
D. Subject Specific Skills
1. be able to use various semantic concepts to identify the meaning of
words, phrases and sentences.
2.be able to use componential analysis, and lexical fields and hierarchies
to differentiate between the meaning of words.
3. implement semantic theories and concepts in writing term papers on
different aspects of semantics.
E. Transferable Skills
1. display discussion skills through doing the exercises in the
classroom.
2. display presentation skills through giving presentations in the
classroom.
3. write cohesive term-paper.
Teaching Methods
1. Lectures: three hours per week ( All learning outcomes)
2. Assignments: Students are asked to do the exercises that follow
each chapter and then to discuss them in the classroom( learning
outcomes A and B)
3. Presentations: Students are supposed to give presentations on
various topics discussed in the course ( ( All learning outcomes)
4. Term paper: Each students is supposed to submit a term dealing with a
topic discussed in the course ( all learning outcomes)
Textbook
-John Saeed. 1997. Semantics. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.
References
-K, Allan , 1986: Linguistic Meaning . 2 Volumes, London : Routledge &
Kegan Paul.
-Anita , Avramides , 1989 : Meaning and Mind . Cambridge , MA: MIT
Press
-Diane , Blakemore , 1992 : Understanding Utterances : an introduction
to pragmatics. Oxford : Blackwell.
-Ronnie , Cann 1993: Formal Semantics . Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press
-G and s McConnel-Ginet , Chierchia 1990 : Meaning and Grammar: an
Introduction to Sematics . Cambridge , MA : MIT Press .
-D .A . Cruse 1986 : Lexical Semantics . Cambridge : Cambridge
University Press
-Gills , Fauconnier 1994 : Mental spaces : aspects of meaning
construction in natural language . Cambridge : Cambridge University
Press
-Cliff Goddard and Ann Wierzbicka (eds) , 1994 : Semantic and Lexical
UniversalsAmsterdam-John Benjamins.
-Geoffery N . , Leech 1983: Principles of Pragmatics . London :
Longman
-John , Lyons 1981 : Language , Meaning and Context . London :
Fontana
-John Lyons 1995 Linguistic Semantics: An Introduction. Cambridge
University Press
-James , Pustejovsky 1995: The Generative Lexicon . Cambridge ,
MA:MIT Press
-James , pustejovsky (ed.) 1993 :Semantics and Lexicon . Dordrecht
:Kluwer
-Daniel , Vanderveken 1990 : Meaning and Speech Acts .2 volumes .
Cambridge : Cambridge University Press .
Course Requirements:
Presentation
10%
Midterm Exam
30% 29- 3 -2006
Term Paper:
20% 3 -5-2006
Final Exam:
40% 7-6- 2006
Participation and Attendance:
Participation in class is essential. You are expected to participate actively.
Regular attendance is essential as well.
Course Schedule:
WEEK
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
TOPIC
Introduction ( semantics in
linguistics)
Meaning, Thought, and Reality
Meaning, Thought, and Reality
Word Meaning
Sentence Relations and Truth
Sentence Semantics: situations
Sentence Semantics: Participants
Context and Inference
Speech as Action
Meaning Components
Formal Semantics
Formal Semantics
Cognitive Semantics
Cognitive Semantics
Presentations
Good Luck
READINGS
Ch.1(S: 3-22)
Ch.2(S: 23-50)
Ch.2(S: 23-50)
Ch.3(S: 53-78)
Ch.4(S:79-105)
Ch.5(S: 106-138)
Ch.6(S: 139-171)
Ch.7(S: 171-202)
Ch.8(S: 203-227)
Ch.9(S: 229-266)
Ch.10(S: 268-282)
Ch.10(S: 283-297)
Ch.11(S: 299-317)
Ch.11(319-335