For next Tuesday 2/7, please read sections 2.1 and 2.2 (pgs. 24-32) of the Kearns textbook. The reading describes the language of propositional logic, a precisely-defined formal language that allows us to represent the truth conditions of certain English sentences. We will spend next week becoming acquainted with the language of propositional logic, and seeing …
Continue reading ‘Reading for Tu 2/7: Kearns §2.1-2.2 (pgs. 24-32)’ »
The HW1 answer key is now available for download. So as to restrict their availability, I’ll be posting your HW answer keys in the “Readings” section of this website–just use the password listed on your syllabus to access them.
Your second homework assignment is now available for download–just click on the link below for a PDF version. It will be due on Thursday, February 2, at the beginning of class. HW2 (due Th 2/2 @ beg. of class)
For Tuesday 1/31, please finish section 3.1 (pgs. 109-118) of the Levinson chapter on Conversational Implicature (the first part of which was assigned for Thursday 1/26–a PDF version is available in the Readings section of this website).
Here’s a handout which (i) summarizes some of the key concepts we’ve introduced in class so far, and (ii) summarizes our discussion of entailments, as well as our tests for identifying them. Since these tests do not appear anywhere in your readings, I thought that this would be a useful addition to your notes. You …
Continue reading ‘Handout on basic semantic notions, entailment’ »
For this Thursday 1/26, please read sections 3.0 and 3.1 (pgs. 97-109) of the following book chapter, which can be downloaded (PDF) from the “Readings” section of this website: Levinson, Stephen C. 1983. Pragmatics, Chap. 3 (‘Conversational Implicature’). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Your very first homework assignment is now available for download–just click on the link below for a PDF version. It will be due on Thursday, January 26, at the beginning of class. HW1 (due Th 1/26 @ beg. of class)
In Tuesday’s (1/24) class, we will continue our discussion of entailment, which is a fundamental notion in semantics. In preparation for our discussion, please read the short excerpt on entailment (from G. Chierchia & S. McConnell-Ginet’s semantics textbook Meaning and Grammar) that I have posted in the “Readings” section of this website. (Note: remember that the “Readings” …
For Thursday, 1/19, please read Chapter 1 of the Kearns textbook. The chapter provides an overview of the approach to linguistic meaning that we will adopt this semester.
Welcome to the course webpage for Linguistics 502, Semantics 1. Be sure to check this page regularly for general announcements about our course, as well as for any schedule changes and useful links. Homework assignments, supplementary readings, and other course materials will also be posted here.