Semantics
Code
722131082
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Linguística
Credits
10
Teacher in charge
Helena Topa Valentim
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) to define the field of study of semantics, while proposing an interaction with other disciplines (syntax, pragmatics, philosophy of language);
b) to construct proposals for the uniform treatment of forms available in languages, from the description of the heterogeneity of these forms, taking into consideration:
(i) forms and constructions in different languages, allow the study of different grammatical categories
(ii) heterogeneous phenomena relating to the stability and deformability of those forms within linguistic analysis;
(iii) different models and theories available in the study of the semantics of languages
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
A - Models and perspectives: 1 - Models of analysis on reference, 2 - Diversity of language and cognitive representations; 3 Linguistic representation of grammatical categories.
B Data in semantics: methodology(ies) and theoretical models.
C Grammatical forms and grammatical categories: the perspective of propositional semantics
1 Referential and non-referential descriptions: nominal operations: extraction, pinpointing, and scanning; the structure of the notional domain
2 Time /tense reference and aspectual reference: Aktionsart and grammatical aspect; markers of perfect and non-perfect aspect, the concept of telecity.
D Linguistic forms and constructions:
1- Subjectood and subjectivity markers, 2 mood, modality and modal values;
3- Epistemic and non-epistemic modality; modality, tense and aspect; 4 - modality, evidentiality and mediatif markers;
E- Theories and concepts:
1- Verbal determination and compositionality;
2- Transcategoriality vs. interfaces in semantic analysis
F- Case studies: tense and aspect in natural languages / polysemy and schematic forms / lexical, auxiliary and light verbs / periphrastic constructions.
Bibliography
CAMPOS, M. H.. Tempo, aspecto e modalidade. Porto, Porto Editora, 1997
BINNICK, Robert I. (ed), The Oxford Handbook of Tense and Aspect. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012
MARTINICH, A.P.. (ed). The Philosophy of language. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990
LYONS, J.. Semantics (vol I /II). Cambridge: CUP, 1977
PALMER, F.R. Mood and Modality. Cambridge, CUP, 2001
Teaching method
The topics proposed for study, reflection and discussion in this seminar are scheduled in the beginning of the semester and prepared in advance based on the reading of the recommended bibliography.
In tutorial sessions, the personal work of Master´s students will be regularly monitored and subject to evaluation.
Evaluation method
Active participation in the seminar sessions, according to the activities planned (10%); discussion of theoretical readings, according to the syllabus (30%); a written original report, including its oral presentation (60%).