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1. Aims and Objectives
The aim of this course is to examine aspects of linguistic meaning and language use.
Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
- observe the relation between linguistic expressions and objects in the world; and
2. Topics to be Covered
Language and meaning, meaning, mind and world, the place of semantics in linguistics theory, some assumptions
Reference, reference as a theory of meaning, mental representations, necessary and sufficient conditions
Words, grammatical categories, lexical relations, derivational relations
Logic and truth, types of truth, entailment and presupposition
Situation types, aspect, modality
Thematic roles, grammatical relations, verbs and thematic grids, voice
Componential analysis, lexical relations, Katz's semantic theory, grammatical rules and semantic components, conflation patterns, Jackendoff's conceptual structure
Connectives, quantifiers in predicate logic, truth values of sentences, meaning postulates
Metaphor, image schemas, polysemy, mental space
Time and tense, intension and extension, counterfactuals, world-creating predicates, modal auxiliaries and adverbs
3. Teaching Methods
2 hour lecture and 1 hour tutorial per week.
4. Requirements
(a) Regular class attendance and active participation in class discussions
(b) Assignments handed in on time
i. Assignments should be clean, clear and in the form of computer printout whenever possible
ii. Discussion among classmates is encouraged but the final version must be of your own
5. Assessment
Coursework 100% (Assignments)
6. Booklist
6.1 Textbook
Saeed, John I. Semantics. Oxford: Blackwell, 1997.
6.2 Supplemental Readings
- Cann, R. Formal Semantics: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 1993.
- Chierchia & McConnell-Ginet, Meaning and Grammar. The MIT Press, 1990
- de Swart, Henrieette Introduction to Natural Language Semantics. CSLI Publications
- Dowty, D., R. Wall & S. Peters, Introduction to Montague Semantics. Reidel (now Kluwer), 1981
- Heim, Irene and Angelika Kratzer. Semantics in Generative Grammar. Oxford: Blackwell, 1998.
- Larson, R. and G. Segal, Knowledge of Meaning: An Introduction to Semantic Theory. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1995.
- Jiang, Yan and Haihua Pan, Xingshi Yuyixue Yinglun (Introduction to Formal Semantics), China Social Sciences Publishing House, Beijing, May 1998
- Xu, Liejiong, Yuyixue (Semantics), revised edition, Beijing Yuwen Chubanshe, 1995.
7. Instructor Information
Name: Dr. PAN, Haihua
Office: B7610
Extension: 8795
Locker: A-24/Q14
Homepage: http://ctlhpan.cityu.edu.hk/haihuapan/
Email: cthpan@cityu.edu.hk
Comments to: cthpan@cityu.edu.hk
Last updated by Haihua Pan, 13 March 2007