AJ12071 Introduction to Semantics

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2020
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Sarah Dobiášová (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Naděžda Kudrnáčová, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Jana Chamonikolasová, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Tomáš Hanzálek
Supplier department: Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 18:00–19:40 D22
Prerequisites (in Czech)
AJ09999 Qualifying Examination || AJ01002 Practical English II
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 11 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course is designed for BA students. It offers a comprehensive treatment of semantics for students who have little knowledge of semantics. The course provides students with a solid understanding of key concepts in semantics and methods of semantic analysis. The course also aims to encourage an active approach on the part of students toward the subject matter. The course will enable students to proceed to more specialized aspects of semantic analysis. The course is taught in English.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be able to: - read and understand literature in the field - identify and explain basic semantic concepts, both at the lexical level and at the sentential and inter-sentential levels - write an essay on topics in semantics
Syllabus
  • Description of the course: The course is taught in English. Topics that will be covered include: - semantics and semiotics
  • - word meaning and sentence meaning
  • - utterances, sentences and propositions
  • - semantics and pragmatics;
  • - reference, sense, denotation
  • - word meaning: types of meaning
  • - componential analysis
  • - lexical relations: hyponymy, synonymy, antonymy, relational opposites, meronymy, polysemy and homonymy
  • - verbs and situation types
  • - modality and evidentiality
  • - sentence participants
  • - grammatical relations and semantic roles
  • - context and inference: deixis, background knowledge, information structure
  • - conversational implicature
Literature
    required literature
  • SAEED, John I. Semantics. 3rd ed. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009, xvii, 456. ISBN 9781405156394. info
  • LEECH, Geoffrey Neil. Semantics :the study of meaning. 2nd ed. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books, 1981, xii, 383 s. ISBN 0-14-021694-4. info
  • PALMER, F. R. (Frank Robert). Semantics : a new outline. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976, viii, 164. ISBN 0-521-09999-4. info
    recommended literature
  • Sebastian Löbner: Understanding Semantics. Arnold Publishers 2002
  • CRUSE, D. Alan. Meaning in language : an introduction to semantics and pragmatics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, xii, 424. ISBN 0198700105. info
  • Linguistic semantics. Edited by William Frawley. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum associates, 1992, xvii, 533. ISBN 0805810757. info
Teaching methods
One 1.5 hour seminar per week.
Assessment methods
Seminar attendance is compulsory. Assessment: a written test at the end of the course.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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Teacher's information
http://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf/course/view.php?id=440
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Spring 2000, Autumn 2000, Spring 2001, Autumn 2001, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
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