LIN1145H1S - Semantics

An introduction to formal semantics for students with a background in linguistic theory.

This course provides students with the tools they need to read primary literature in formal linguistic semantics, and to incorporate semantics into their own research. No background in logic or philosophy of language is assumed.

Instructor: Elizabeth Cowper

Office: RL·6074
E-mail: cowper@chass.utoronto.ca
Telephone:
- 416-978-1767 (St. George campus)
- 416-287-7127 (Scarborough)
When I'm not in my office, you can send me an e-mail, or leave a message for me in my mailbox in the Department of Linguistics.

Schedule:

Class Hours:	Mondays, 5:00-6:00, RL·6071 Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00, RL·6071
Office Hours:	Mondays, 1-3 p.m., RL·6074

Required texts:

Bach, Emmon. Informal Lectures on Formal Semantics. Out of print; copies available from the instructor.

Heim, Irene, and Angelika Kratzer. 1998. Semantics in Generative Grammar. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

Portner, Paul, and Barbara Hall Partee. 2002. Formal Semantics: the Essential Readings. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

Other useful texts:

Chierchia, Gennaro, and Sally McConnell-Ginet. 1990.Meaning and Grammar: an Introduction to Semantics. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

Gamut, L. T. F. 1991. Logic, Language and Meaning (2 volumes). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (Note: L. T. F. Gamut is a collective pseudonym for J. F. A. K. van Benthem, J. A. G. Groenendijk, D. H. J. de Jongh, M. J. B. Stokhof, and H. J. Verkuyl.)

Lappin, Shalom (ed.). 1996. The Handbook of Contemporary Semantic Theory. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

Evaluation:

Item	Date	Weight
Homework exercises	periodic	50%
Midterm assignment	Feb. 24	20%
Final paper	Mar. 31	30%

The homework exercises will range from exercises designed to familiarize students with logical notation, to "thinking questions" that challenge students to make connections between the formal semantics material and what they know about syntactic and morphological theory, and to question some of the assumptions made in formal semantics.
The midterm takehome will be similar in substance to the homework assignments, but will be on a somewhat larger scale, with more careful presentation expected.
The final paper will be an investigation of a topic chosen by the student in consultation with the instructor. The paper could consist primarily of critique and commentary on a paper or papers, or it could be an analysis of a phenomenon or problem in semantics.

Calendar:

Mondays	Wednesdays	Fridays (University deadlines)
Jan. 5 Introduction, basic predicate calculus	Jan. 7 Bach, chapters 2, 3 & 4: model theory, lambdas, sets
Jan. 12 Bach, chapter 5: types	Jan. 14 Bach, chapters 6 & 7: properties, situations
Jan. 19 (2 hour class) Homework 1 due Heim & Kratzer, chapters 1 & 2	Jan. 21 (class may start a bit late) Discussion of Homework 1	Jan. 23 Last day to add S courses
Jan. 26 (2 hour class) Heim & Kratzer, chapters 3 and 4	Jan. 28 No Class
Feb. 2 Homework 2 due Heim & Kratzer, chapter 5	Feb. 4 Heim & Kratzer, chapter 6 & 7
Feb. 9 Discussion of Homework 2	Feb. 11 Heim & Kratzer, chapters 8 & 9
Feb. 16-20 Reading Week: No classes
Feb. 23 Midterm assignment due Heim & Kratzer, chapter 10	Feb. 25 Heim & Kratzer, chapters 11 & 12	Feb. 27 Last day to drop S courses
Mar. 1 Discussion of midterm assignment	Mar. 3
Mar. 8	Mar. 10
Mar. 15 More on types: Portner & Partee, chapter 14 (Partee & Rooth)	Mar. 17 Counting things and events: Portner & Partee, chapter 13 (Bach)
Mar. 22 Homework 3 due More on plurals: Portner & Partee, chapter 2 (Carlson)	Mar. 24 Something on tense & aspect: Portner & Partee, chapter 11 (Dowty)
Mar. 29 Discussion of Homework 3	Mar. 31 The semantics of illocutionary force: Portner & Partee, chapter 16 (Karttunen)
Apr. 5 Mood, Modals and Modality: Portner & Partee, chapter 12 (Kratzer)	Apr. 7 TBA	Apr. 9 Final paper due

Handouts

All handouts posted here are in PDF format; they can be viewed and printed using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

General information and links

Grading practices

The University Grading Practices Policy states that "[g]rades should always be based on the approved grade scales. However, students may find that on any one evaluation they may receive a numerical or letter mark that reflects the score achieved on the test or essay. The cumulative scores may not be directly identified with the final grade. Grades are final only after review by the divisional review committee." The full text of the Grading Practices Policy can be found online in the SGS Calendar.

Links

University of Toronto home page

School of Graduate Studies

Department of Linguistics