AJ12071 Introduction to Semantics

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2001
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Naděžda Kudrnáčová, CSc. (lecturer)
PhDr. Milan Růžička (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Ing. Mgr. Jiří Rambousek, Ph.D.
Department of English and American Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Michaela Hrazdílková
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 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Semantics (as the study of meaning) is central to the study of communication. This option offers an introduction to some of the basic concepts of semantics. The range of the topics dealt with will cover the semantic structure of the sentence, the interrelation of syntax and semantics, case grammar, componential analysis, and selected semantic concepts such as causativity, transitivity and agency. The option is aimed at encouraging an active approach of students toward the subject matter.
Syllabus
  • Semantics (as the study of meaning) is central to the study of communication. This option offers an introduction to some of the basic concepts of semantics. The seminar is aimed at encouraging an active approach of students toward the subject matter. The range of the topics dealt with will cover: SENTENCE MEANING - atomic and compound propositions, semantic roles, locution and illocution, sentence relations, context, truth-based semantics, semantics versus pragmatics, semantics and grammar. WORD MEANING:dictionary entry, mental image, referential meaning, componential meaning, lexical relations, lexical ambiguity, polysemy. SENTENCE MEANING: - atomic and compound propositions - semantic roles - locution and illocution - sentence relations: (a) paraphrases (b) entailment (c) presupposition (d) contradiction - context - truth-based semantics - semantics versus pragmatics - semantics and grammar. WORD MEANING - dictionary entry - mental image - referential meaning (intension, extension) - componential meaning - lexical relations (a) synonymy (b) antonymy : gradable, complementary, relational - lexical ambiguity, polysemy. MODELS OF MEANING - extensional model of meaning - intensional model of meaning - 'hyperintensional' model of meaning - dynamic model of meaning
Literature
  • LYONS, John. Linguistic semantics : an introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1995, xvi, 376. ISBN 0521438772. info
  • PALMER, F. R. Semantics. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1981, vi, 221. ISBN 0521283760. info
  • LEECH, Geoffrey. Semantics :the study of meaning. 2nd ed. London: Penguin Books, 1981, xii, 383 s. ISBN 0-14-013487-5. info
  • LAKOFF, George and Mark JOHNSON. Metaphors we live by. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980, xiii, 242. ISBN 0-226-46800-3. info
  • DIJK, Teun Adrianus van. Text and context : explorations in the semantics and pragmatics of discourse. London: Longman, 1977, xvii, 261. ISBN 0582291054. info
  • LYONS, John. Introduction to theoretical linguistics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1968, x, 519. ISBN 0521095107. info
Assessment methods (in Czech)
Seminar; Assessment: a written test at the end of the course and/or oral contribution during the seminar.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 1999, Spring 2000, Autumn 2000, 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, Autumn 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2001, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2001/AJ12071