SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Department of Linguistics

Topics in Lexical Semantics (MA)

Course Code:

15PLIH003

Unit value:

0.5

Taught in:

Term 1

This course will give a fully fledged introduction to the field of lexical semantics.

Objectives and learning outcomes of the course

At the end of the course, the student should:

• be familiar with basic concepts and issues in the study of Semantics at the lexical, sentential and discourse level
• appreciate the various (lexical, grammatical and logical) relations which structure the semantic domains relevant to natural languages
• be able to apply relevant data, tests and argumentation to the investigation of specific semantic phenomena
• understand how linguistic meaning interacts with other knowledge systems: cognition, general (encyclopaedic) knowledge, contextual and cultural knowledge
• have some familiarity with the resources and research literature in the topic

Workload

Total of 10 weeks teaching with a 2 hour lecture and a 1 hour seminar per week.

Scope and syllabus

The course will focus on how lexical semantic meaning components are expressed in the syntax of natural languages. In Part I we will introduce the basic assumptions and goals of different approaches to semantic research.  In Part II the formalism and tools of formal semantics will be introduced and in part 3 we will focus on some current issues in the Lexical Semantics/Syntax interface.

Topics covered include

• Lexical and phrasal meanings and the logical and semantic systems they may participate in, including quantificational systems, predication, tense, aspect and modality
• Contextual dimensions of interpretation, including information structure, deixis, pragmatics and discourse domains
• The cognitive/conceptual models on which natural language semantics is based: event- types,plurality and count/mass distinctions, semantic components and lexical-conceptual structures.

Method of assessment

One essay of 3,500 words (50%) due after reading week; one essay of 3,500 words (50%) due in the first week of term 2.

Suggested reading

Convenors

• Wynn Chao

• BA Linguistics
• BA Linguistics and...
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• MA Linguistics
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• PhD in Linguistics
• UG Course Units
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