This course is an introduction to semantics, the study of meaning in natural language. In general, theories of semantics aim to provide insight into two basic questions:
(i) How can we represent the meaning of a sentence,
in order to capture the intuitions native speakers have about truth conditions, ambiguity, contextual appropriateness, etc?;
(ii) Given a desired semantic representation for a sentence, how can we represent the semantic contributions of its parts, and
how can we combine the semantics of the parts into the meaning of the whole?
Course description
Course objectives
(i) Introduce a formally explicit theory of natural language
semantics;
(ii) Learn some basic formal tools and get extensive hands-on practice.
(ii) Learn some basic formal tools and get extensive hands-on practice.
Course requirements and grading
Exams (70%). There will be two exams, a mid-term and a final, weighted equally. The mid-term is set for Wednesday, March 9th, the last Wednesday before Spring Break. The final is scheduled for 9AM, Thursday May 12th. There will be no make-up exams.
If for some reason you absolutely cannot make it to an exam, you must let me know in advance.
Homework (15%). Homework assignments will teach you how to do semantics more than anything else. If you want to do well on the exams, do the homework assignments. In general, homework will be assigned on Wednesdays, and will be due the following Wednesday, at the beginning of class. Assignments must be typed. No late assignments will be accepted, and no electronic submissions will be accepted. You may work together, as long as you (i) write up the assignment you turn in on your own, and (ii) write the name of the person you worked with at the top of the page below yours.
Presentations/squibs (10%). You will each write one very short, very focused paper (called a squib), on a topic of your choice, which you will present in class during the last two weeks of classes. I am happy to help you choose a topic, by email or during office hours. Note that squibs need not provide a full analysis of a phenomenon. A good squib might: point out an empirical phenomenon that is a problem for a theory; point out an empirical phenomenon that offers independent evidence for a theory; extend an existing analysis of some phenomenon to new data; make some new empirical observations and explain their significance.
Attendance (5%). You are allowed to miss up to two lectures without penalty and without excuses. These two absences should be enough to cover most illnesses, family emergencies, and days of religious observance. If your absences do not exceed two, you get the full 6 points for the attendance portion of your final course grade. If you miss more than two classes, your grade will be reduced by 2.5 points for each excess absence, up to a maximum of 5 points. If you feel you merit an exception to this rule, then you should talk to me about it at the end of the semester; I will look at your attendance record and ask you to explain your absences. I will take attendance at 11AM; if you are not in class when I take attendance, it will count as an absence.
Homework (15%). Homework assignments will teach you how to do semantics more than anything else. If you want to do well on the exams, do the homework assignments. In general, homework will be assigned on Wednesdays, and will be due the following Wednesday, at the beginning of class. Assignments must be typed. No late assignments will be accepted, and no electronic submissions will be accepted. You may work together, as long as you (i) write up the assignment you turn in on your own, and (ii) write the name of the person you worked with at the top of the page below yours.
Presentations/squibs (10%). You will each write one very short, very focused paper (called a squib), on a topic of your choice, which you will present in class during the last two weeks of classes. I am happy to help you choose a topic, by email or during office hours. Note that squibs need not provide a full analysis of a phenomenon. A good squib might: point out an empirical phenomenon that is a problem for a theory; point out an empirical phenomenon that offers independent evidence for a theory; extend an existing analysis of some phenomenon to new data; make some new empirical observations and explain their significance.
Attendance (5%). You are allowed to miss up to two lectures without penalty and without excuses. These two absences should be enough to cover most illnesses, family emergencies, and days of religious observance. If your absences do not exceed two, you get the full 6 points for the attendance portion of your final course grade. If you miss more than two classes, your grade will be reduced by 2.5 points for each excess absence, up to a maximum of 5 points. If you feel you merit an exception to this rule, then you should talk to me about it at the end of the semester; I will look at your attendance record and ask you to explain your absences. I will take attendance at 11AM; if you are not in class when I take attendance, it will count as an absence.
Course website
http://dstmte.net/lgcs106/
Contacting me
Email is the best way to contact me:
meredith.landman -at- gmail -dot- com
meredith.landman -at- gmail -dot- com
Academic honesty
Be aware of school regulations on academic
honesty. Ask me when in doubt. The following are considered to be
cheating: copying or sharing all or part of a homework assignment;
copying answers from books; copying or sharing information during an exam.