Syllabus: Spring 2018

Course Overview

Linguistic semantics is the study of meaning as conveyed through language. The utterances made by speakers of a language are expressions of intentional and mindful activity. Communication through language is a reflection of our modeling of the environment and our attempt to understand reality with an innate logical machinery for reasoning and inference. We begin with the study of logic (natural deduction) and show how propositional and first-order logical systems provide a natural means for the formal interpretation of linguistic expressions. We then examine the semantics of logical inference in terms of model theory and semantic types. The major subject areas of semantics are covered, including quantification and plurality, anaphora and discourse, tense and aspect, and lexical semantics.

Learning goals for this course include:

  • Reasoning about meanings and meaning relations between declarative sentences and their parts, including differentiating meanings that are entailed, presupposed, and implicated.
  • Improving quantitative reasoning skills by applying logic to analysis of grammatical language meaning.

Time:
Tuesday & Thursday 2:00 - 3:20
Location:
Volen 119
Textbook:
  • Semantics: An Introduction to Meaning in Language
    Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics, Paperback, 2009
    by Ronnie Cann, Ruth Kempson, Eleni Gregoromichelaki
  • Additional readings will be distributed through LATTE.

    • Professor

    Sophia A. Malamud
    Email:
    Office: Volen 215
    Office Hours: Wednesdays 2-4pm,
    OR email me for appointment

    T.A.s

    Alex Lưu
    Email: alexluu AT brandeis DOT edu
    Office hours location: Volen lobby
    Office Hours: Mondays 11:30am-12:30pm, Thursdays 11am-12pm
    David Rubio-Vallejo
    Email: drubio AT brandeis DOT edu
    Office hours location: Volen Vertica Lounge
    Office Hours: Wednesdays and Thursdays 12-1pm

    Grading

    In computing your grade, I will use the following weights:

  • class participation, making the deadlines, communicating with me
    		•  10 percent
  • homework (lowest homework grade will be dropped)
    		• 60 percent
  • quizzes
    		• 30 percent

    Requirements and honour code

    Success in this four-credit course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, papers, preparation for quizzes, etc.).

    Students are required to complete two types of assignments: homework problem sets, and midterm and final quizzes. In addition, students must attend, and are expected to come prepared to fully participate in discussion and in-class “workshops”.
    Details of these requirements are below:

    • Problem sets will be generally assigned on a Thursday, and will be due the following Thursday at the beginning of class.
      • They will be graded on a 10 point scale and the lowest grade will be dropped.
      • You’re encouraged to discuss the problems with your colleagues in the class and work together, provided you indicate the name(s) of the person(s) you’re working with. However, after you are done talking to your group, you should go away and write up the answers on your own, and in your own words.
      • Homework on multiple pieces of paper needs to be stapled together! Write neatly. Think about what it must be like to read your own writing!
    • The midterm quiz and final exam will be cumulative. Both quizzes will be take-home. You’re not supposed to discuss the exams with anyone other than me and the TAs. It always shows, and we will know.
    • Some class sessions will be dedicated to discussion of the material and its application to various areas of linguistics. I will assign practice problems and discussion questions beforehand, and you should come to class with written attempted solutions to the problems and written thoughts on discussion questions. While you won’t be penalised for being quiet in class, I hope that you will feel welcome to ask questions, and that you will want to participate in class discussions.
    • You can skip any three classes for any reason. Any further skipped classes will incur a penalty of half a point from the final course grade, up to a total of the 10% attendance/participation grade.
    • Being on time and communicating with me is part of your grade for all of the above requirements.
      • Late assignments will incur a 10% penalty for every day late
      • Assignments submitted on the due date but after the beginning of class will be considered one day late.
      • I cannot accept assignments after the graded assignments are returned or after answers are posted.
      • If you feel that you are failing to make a deadline, you should communicate with me immediately, and ask for an extension before the assignment is due.
      • I'm usually generous with extensions, but will impose penalties (see above) if you just skip a deadline without prior communication with me.
      • If a family or medical emergency intervenes, you should communicate with me as soon as you can.

    Honour code: Cheating is a very serious business and will not be tolerated at all. We will make every attempt to be reasonable about assignments, due dates, etc., but infractions of the honour code will be dealt with severely.

     

    Additional information

    Throughout the semester, we will use the LATTE page for this course for course announcements, posting readings, handouts, assignments, etc. Please check it often by logging in at http://latte.brandeis.edu/. You must be officially registered for the course in order to access the LATTE page.

    If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see the professor immediately. Retroactive accommodation cannot be provided.