Lexicology And Semantics Of English
- Arts
- 800 level
- 3 credit units
- 172 pages
- 20 units
This course provides an in-depth exploration of lexicology and semantics of English. It examines the challenges in doing semantics, the roles of syntax in sentence interpretation, and the application of logic in sentence interpretation, proposition, and entailment. The course also discusses the relationships between signs and their users, and the relationship between concepts and general thought, and thought and reality. It introduces students to formal semantics.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 26 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical
- Practical work
- No
- ENG331: Introduction to Semantics
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of ENG831, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
ENG831 · UNIT 1: CHALLENGES IN DOING SEMANTICS
Definitions can also be obscure if they employ ordinary-looking words in a semi- metaphoric way. For example, in the following definitions, come and bring are not being used in their ordinary meanings.
What you should be able to do
- Discuss the challenges in doing semantics
- Identify the roles of syntax in sentence interpretation
- Discuss sentence relations and truth
- Examine the relationship between signs and their users
- Discuss the nature of the relationship between concepts and general thought
What it prepares you for
- Linguist
- Editor
- Content writer
- Speech writer
- Communication expert
- Education
- Media
- Publishing
- Advertising
- Public Relations
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Syntax and Sentence Interpretation
Unit 3: Thematic Roles
Understanding the nuances of thematic role assignment requires careful attention to verb semantics and syntactic structure.
- Module 2: Sentence Relations and Truth
Unit 2: Propositional Logic
The abstract nature of truth tables and logical connectives can be challenging for students without a background in formal logic.
- Module 5: Formal Semantics
Unit 3: Translating English into a Logical Metalanguage
Translating complex English sentences into predicate logic requires a strong understanding of both linguistic structure and logical notation.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 26 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Syntax and Sentence Interpretation
Unit 1: Challenges in Doing Semantics · 2 hours
Read the introduction to semantics and its challenges. Understand the challenges in defining meaning. Identify obscurity, circularity, and superfluous components in definitions.
- Week 2Module 1: Syntax and Sentence Interpretation
Unit 2: Structural Ambiguity · 2 hours
Identify structurally ambiguous constructions. Analyze the constituent parts causing ambiguity. Explain various readings of ambiguous constructions.
- Week 3Module 1: Syntax and Sentence Interpretation
Unit 3: Thematic Roles · 2 hours
Explain thematic roles and their assignment. Identify various thematic roles assigned by verbs. Discuss the relationship between deep structure and thematic role assignment.
- Week 4Module 1: Syntax and Sentence Interpretation
Unit 4: Interpretation of Pronoun · 2 hours
Explain how to interpret pronouns, reflexives, and pronominals. Define C-Command and use it to interpret pronouns. Examine how beliefs and attitudes affect pronoun interpretation.
- Week 5Module 2: Sentence Relations and Truth
Unit 1: Meaning and Logic · 2 hours
Explain the term proposition. Differentiate between a sentence and a proposition. Analyze the truth of statements.
- Week 6Module 2: Sentence Relations and Truth
Unit 2: Propositional Logic · 2 hours
Explain logical connectives and quantifiers. Employ connectives and quantifiers in propositional logic. Construct truth tables for logical statements.
- Week 7Module 2: Sentence Relations and Truth
Unit 3: Entailment · 2 hours
Examine truth relations in entailment. Apply truth-based definitions to semantic relations. Draw composite truth tables for entailment.
- Week 8Module 2: Sentence Relations and Truth
Unit 4: Presupposition · 2 hours
Employ logic in discussing presupposition. Explain the pragmatic approach to presupposition. Analyze presupposition and context.
- Week 9Module 3: Meaning and Context I
Unit 1: Deixis · 2 hours
Define pragmatics and its focus. Explain deixis and its types. Give a pragmatic discussion of presupposition.
- Week 10Module 3: Meaning and Context I
Unit 2: Speech Act Theory · 2 hours
Explain how words perform actions (locutionary, illocutionary, perlocutionary). Distinguish between what words mean and what speakers intend. Identify felicity conditions for performative utterances.
- Week 11Module 3: Meaning and Context I
Unit 3: Indirect Speech Act · 2 hours
Identify indirect speech acts. Distinguish between direct and indirect speech acts. Explain the reasons for using indirect speech acts.
- Week 12Module 3: Meaning and Context I
Unit 4: Politeness I · 2 hours
Explain politeness and its principles. Discuss the concept of face. Show the difference between negative and positive face.
- Week 13Module 3: Meaning and Context I
Unit 5: Politeness II · 2 hours
Discuss how to avoid face-threatening acts. Explain politeness strategies for maintaining face. Describe the maxims proposed by Leech.
Preparing for the exam
- Create flashcards for key semantic terms (hyponymy, entailment, presupposition)
- Practice drawing tree diagrams for structurally ambiguous sentences
- Review thematic roles and verb classifications from Units 3-5
- Study truth tables for logical connectives from Units 7-9 weekly
- Create concept maps linking Units 3-5 database concepts
Questions students ask about this course
What is ENG831 about?
This course provides an in-depth exploration of lexicology and semantics of English. It examines the challenges in doing semantics, the roles of syntax in sentence interpretation, and the application of logic in sentence interpretation, proposition, and entailment. The course also discusses the relationships between signs and their users, and the relationship between concepts and general thought, and thought and reality. It introduces students to formal semantics.
How many units does ENG831 have?
ENG831, Lexicology And Semantics Of English, has 20 units across 5 modules, over 172 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is ENG831?
ENG831 carries 3 credit units, at 800 level in Arts.
Is ENG831 hard?
ENG831 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical work.
How long does ENG831 take to study?
About 26 hours of study, spread across its 20 units.
How is ENG831 assessed?
ENG831 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What do I need before starting ENG831?
ENG331: Introduction to Semantics
What can I do with ENG831?
Linguist, Editor, Content writer, Speech writer and Communication expert.