Occurrence | Teaching cycle |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2018-19 to Summer Term 2018-19 |
The module aims to equip students with the basic conceptual and formal tools of semantics and to a lesser extent of pragmatics. Students will learn how to formulate limited hypotheses and test them using basic semantic tests.
Knowledge outcomes
At the end of this module you will understand:
The distinction between different semantic levels (lexical, sentential, discoursal)
The relationship between syntax and semantics
The distinction between semantics and pragmatics
The relationship between words, concepts, and things/facts (sense, reference, extension/intension)
The importance of entailment and the distinction between entailment, presupposition and inference
The importance of truth and truth conditions
The importance and function of a formal metalanguage
Basic logical and set-theoretic concepts, operations and notation
Behavioural outcomes
You will be able to:
Distinguish between semantic anomaly and ungrammaticality
Apply semantic tests for entailment, implication and presupposition
Evaluate predicate logic formulae
Translate sentences of English into logic (and, to a lesser extent, vice-versa)
Write basic set-theoretic formulae
Construct a model
Identify well-formed formulae in propositional and predicate logic
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Exercise set 1 |
N/A | 20 |
Essay/coursework Exercise set 2 |
N/A | 20 |
University - closed examination Introduction to Semantics |
1.5 hours | 60 |
None
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
University - closed examination Reassessment: Introduction to Semantics |
1.5 hours | 100 |
Marks and model answers for exercises within 20 working days. Students will be allowed to see their exam paper with comments, under supervision, at an appointed date.
The main teaching in the module will be accompanied with a reading pack and lecture notes, which will be provided via the Virtual Learning Environment.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): changes to courses
The 2020/21 academic year will start in September. We aim to deliver as much face-to-face teaching as we can, supported by high quality online alternatives where we must.
Find details of the measures we're planning to protect our community.