Admission requirements
Students must have passed the course Language and Logic, or an alternative course in propositional logic and predicate logic at a similar level, ideally containing some application to natural language meaning.
Description
This course provides an advanced introduction to the study of natural language meaning, in particular Formal Semantics. The goal of this subfield of Linguistics is to explain how we are able to understand the meanings of sentences that we have never heard before. There must be some kind of procedure for deriving the meaning of a sentence from the meanings of its parts. Formal tools (logic, maths) have been very useful in uncovering parts of this procedure.
This course presupposes familiarity with formal logic, and delves deeply into its application to natural language meaning. You will gain an understanding of formal semantic methodology and its interfaces with syntax, pragmatics and experimental linguistics, develop the ability to explore and compare different formal semantic accounts of a given phenomenon, and develop the ability to understand papers published in this active research area.
Course objectives
You will be able to explain the goals and central assumptions of formal semantics.
Given a semantic theory, you will be able to derive the truth conditions of a sentence from the meanings of its lexical items and the syntactic way in which they are combined.
Given a partial semantic theory, you will be able to define, compare, and orally explain possible formal lexical entries for a given word, and evaluate the adequacy of adding them to the theory.
You will be able to design and orally present examples and methods to test the predictions of a given semantic theory, taking into account its interaction with syntax and pragmatics.
You will be able to read and understand research papers in formal semantics, at the level of being able to summarize the core phenomena and explanations given, at a conceptual and formal level.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Lecture.
Assessment method
Assessment
There will be one, final written exam with a mix of closed questions, short open questions and essay questions.
Weighing
The written exam comprises 100% of the grade.
Resit
A resit will be offered for the written exam, replacing the original grade entirely.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
Reading materials will be distributed through Brightspace.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
None.