Admission requirements
Successful completion of Semantics 1
Description
There are systematic patterns in how sentence meanings in natural language are computed based on the meanings of the sentence's components plus the way these components are put together in syntax. Formal Semantics is a theoretical framework that enables us to empirically investigate and describe these patterns, employing tools made available by linguistics, logic and cognitive science.
This course is the second course of the two-semester introduction to formal semantics. Topics of the second semester include:
Generalised quantifiers
Events and thematic roles
Tense and aspect
Propositional attitudes
Modals
Types, meaning composition & the lambda calculus
Course objectives
- To acquire the basic skills to analyse the meanings of structurally complex sentences in terms of its sub-sentential meaning composition.
- To be able to apply formal semantic tools to actual natural language data and formulate solutions within the framework acquired in the course.
- To be able to read and critically reflect on primary literature in semantics.
Timetable
Visit MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Lecture/seminar
Assessment method
Weekly homework assignment (20%)
Writing assignment (10%)
Written exam (open book) with short open questions (70%)
Resit
A resit will be offered for the exam, and students will have the opportunity to drop their lowest homework grades and make up late homework for 50% of the points.
Reading list
A course in semantics Altshuler, Parsons & Schwarzschild, MIT Press, 2019
as well a supplementary materials that will be provided during the course.
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on this website
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
not applicable
Contact
For questions related to the content of the course, please contact the lecturer, you can find their contact information by clicking on their name in the sidebar.
For questions regarding enrollment please contact the Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats
E-mail address Education Administration Office Reuvensplaats: osz-oa-reuvensplaats@hum.leidenuniv.nl
For questions regarding your studyprogress contact the Coordinator of Studies
Remarks
not applicable