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Information for module PLING103

This module is available for: The current academic year and The next academic year(provisional)

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Module code:PLING103(Add to my personalised list)
Title:Semantics and Pragmatics
Credit value:30
Division:Division of Psychology and Language Sciences
Module organiser:Nathan Klinedinst
Organiser's location:Chandler House
Organiser's email:n.klinedinst@ucl.ac.uk
Available for students in Year(s):
Module prerequisites:none 
Module outline:The following topics will be covered: - Propositional logic (syntax, semantics, proofs) - Predicate logic (syntax, semantics, proofs) - Comparing logic to natural language - Lexical semantics and the nature of concepts - Formal theories of natural language semantics - Syntax-semantics interface - Semantics/pragmatics distinction - Explicit/implicit distinction - Linguistic underdeterminacy of speaker meaning - Kinds of context-sensitivity and pragmatic processes - Gricean pragmatics - Relevance-theoretic pragmatics - Semantics, pragmatics and cognitive modularity - Disambiguation and reference assignment - Non-literal language use (metaphor and irony) - Conversational implicature - Pragmatic inference and theory of mind  
Module aims:- To introduce basic concepts in the study of meaning in language - To introduce propositional and predicate logic and to draw out its relevance to the study of natural language semantics - To develop the idea that meaning in natural language can be given a formalised description. - To elucidate the two basic distinctions in linguistic communication: semantics/pragmatics; explicit/implicit utterance meaning - To explain the principles of Relevance Theory and the ways in which it differs from Gricean pragmatics - To achieve an appreciation of the full range of pragmatic processes (including disambiguation, reference assignment, non-literal interpretation, implicature)  
Module objectives:The intended learning outcomes are: - Understanding of the concepts and issues outlined in the aims of the module given above - An ability to provide translation of natural language into logical form - An ability to derive simple proofs in propositional and predicate logic - An ability to provide basic formal analysis of the compositional interpretation of natural language sentences - An ability to compare and assess different analytical and theoretical approaches to lexical meaning. - An ability to grasp and discuss the different possible interpretations of utterances in different contexts - An ability to compare and assess different theoretical approaches to semantic/pragmatic issues  
Key skills provided by module: 
Module timetable:https://cmis.adcom.ucl.ac.uk:4443/timetabling/moduleTimet.do?firstReq=Y&moduleId=PLING103 
Module assessment:Departmental test two 35.00%.
Coursework 35.00%.
Departmental test one 30.00%.
 
Notes:available as subsidiary course(numbers permitting); UCL students can register on Portico, intercollegiate students should contact s.anyadi@ucl.ac.uk 
Taking this module as an option?:Available as an option module 
Link to virtual learning environment(registered students only)http://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=1955 
Last updated:2011-06-06 13:09:22 by