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 that 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 (55%). There will be three in-class exams, given roughly every five weeks.
There will be NO make-up exams.
If for some reason you cannot make it to an exam, you must let me know in advance.
Homework (35%). Homework assignments will teach you how to do semantics more than anything else. In general, assignments will be assigned on Thursdays, and will be due the following Thursday at the beginning of class. Late assignments will NOT be accepted. You may work together, as long as you: (i) write the name of the person you worked with at the top of the page below yours; (ii) write up the assignment you turn in on your own.
Attendance (6%) and Participation (4%). To do well in this course, it is essential that you attend all classes. 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 points for each excess absence, up to a maximum of 6 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.
Homework (35%). Homework assignments will teach you how to do semantics more than anything else. In general, assignments will be assigned on Thursdays, and will be due the following Thursday at the beginning of class. Late assignments will NOT be accepted. You may work together, as long as you: (i) write the name of the person you worked with at the top of the page below yours; (ii) write up the assignment you turn in on your own.
Attendance (6%) and Participation (4%). To do well in this course, it is essential that you attend all classes. 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 points for each excess absence, up to a maximum of 6 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.
Course website
http://dstmte.net/teaching/ling320_fall2007
Contact
The best way to contact me is through email: meredith.landman@gmail.com
Academic honesty
Be aware of university 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.