Advanced Semantic Theory
Module Code: PLIN0020
About
In this module you will learn about advanced theoretical topics in Natural Language Semantics, by conducting original research on a linguistic phenomenon that concerns 'meaning' in a language that you do not speak natively, preferably a language that is understudied in the theoretical literature (so, avoid English, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, etc.). The lectures are meant to help you identify a topic to work on. All the course materials (slides, lecture notes, references, etc.) will be uploaded on this webpage.
Assessment
It is necessary to find an informant that you can consult with throughout the semester with whom you will arrange regular data elicitation sessions. Your primary task in this module is to identify an interesting semantic phenomenon in that language, and give an presentation at the end of the module. The final mark is based on an in-class presentation on 12 December 2020 (20%) and a final essay (2500 words, 80%, due on 16 January 2020) that summarises your findings and their theoretical implications.
You can write about any aspect of your language, as long as 'meaning' is involved. It can be semantic or pragmatic. It can be about the syntax-semantics interface, morphology and pragmatics, etc.
You should desribe what you have noticed in your language (description) and then try to discuss it from a theoretical perfective. The theoretical discussion can be about language universals and diversity (e.g. whether or not honorifics in Japanese pose an issue for effability) or it can be specific to the phenomenon you are looking at (e.g. what is the semantics and pragmatics of dual in Slovenian, in light of the markedness among number cateogries).
Please consult the Moodle site (https://moodle.ucl.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=9026) for more information about the assessment.
Schedule and Lecture Notes
Week 1 (3 Oct): Universals and variation in natural language semantics
- Kai von Fintel & Lisa Matthewson (2008) Universals in semantics. Linguistic Review, 25: 139–201.
- M. Ryan Bochnak & Lisa Matthewson (2015) Introduction. In Methodologies in Semantic Fieldwork. Oxford University Press.
Reading:
Week 2 (10 Oct): Number marking
The teaching material for this week is Chapters 1 and 2 (and maybe Chapter 6) of the lecture notes here.
Week 3 (17 Oct): Gender
Slides (pdf)
- Deadline for finding a language informant
Week 4 (24 Oct): Tense and Aspect
Slides (pdf)
Week 5 (31 Oct): Comparatives and other degree constructions
Slides (pdf)
Week 6 (14 Nov): Indexicals and Perspectival Items
Slides (pdf)
Week 7 (21 Nov): Politeness and Discourse Particles
Slides (pdf)
- Deadline for deciding a topic to work on
Week 8 (28 Nov): No class (strike)
Week 9 (5 Dec): No class
Week 10 (12 Dec): Student presentations
Essay Topics
Supplementary Readings
Here are some additional readings on semantic fieldwork:
- Lisa Matthewson (2004) On the methodology of semantic fieldwork. International Journal of American Linguistics, 70(4): 369-415.
- M. Ryan Bochnak & Lisa Matthewson (eds.) (2015) Methodologies in Semantic Fieldwork. Oxford University Press.
If you want to know more about the basics of formal semantics, there's a number of introductory textbooks (no need to all, obviously; they overlap a lot):
- Irene Heim & Angelika Kratzer (1998) Semantics in Generative Grammar. Blackwell.
- Henriëtte de Swart (1998) Introduction to Natural Language Semantics. University of Chicago Press.
- Kate Kearns (2011) Semantics. Palgrave.
- Thomas Ede Zimmermann & Wolfgang Sternefeld (2013) Introduction to Semantics: An Essential Guide to the Composition of Meaning. De Gruyter.
- Pauline Jacobson (2014) Compositional Semantics. Oxford University Press.
- Yoad Winter (2016) Elements of Formal Sematnics. University of Edinburgh Press.
- Elizabeth Coppock & Lucas Champollion (ms.) Formal Semantics Boot Camp.