Sentence and Utterance Meaning 3301-ZJ-JF009

This course is divided into two components: semantics and pragmatics. It provides students with a systematic introduction to how meaning is structured in language and how it is interpreted in context.
1. Semantics:
a) conceptual and associative meaning
b) meaning and reference
c) semantic properties/features
d) quantifying semantic distance and specificity of meaning using semantic features and NLP tools (WordNet)
e) form–meaning relations: homophones, homographs, homonyms, heteronyms
f) lexical relations: synonyms, antonyms, hypernyms, hyponyms
g) extensions of meaning: polysemy, metonymy
h) semantic roles: agent, theme, location, goal, source, instrument, experiencer, causative, possessor
2. Pragmatics:
a) situational context + deixis
b) the cooperative principle
c) conversational maxims: quantity, relevance, manner, quality
d) speech acts
e) locution, illocution, perlocution
f) presupposition, implicature
g) the politeness principle

Course coordinators

Łukasz Stolarski

Type of course

elective courses

Learning outcomes

Knowledge
Students will have in-depth familiarity with:
- K_W01 Advanced terminology, theory and research methods related to semantics and pragmatics , corresponding to the state of the art in these disciplines, in accordance with their chosen specialization (and educational path),
- K_W04 concepts and principles concerning the protection of intellectual property and copyright.

Abilities
Students will be able to:
- K_U01 apply the advanced terminology, theories and methods of linguistic research to solve complex and original research problems in semantics and pragmatics, in accordance with his/her chosen specialization (and educational path),
- K_U04 apply the concepts and principles of intellectual property protection and copyright law.
Social competences Students will be ready to:
- K_K01 critically appraise their knowledge and content obtained from various sources,
- K_K02 initiate action in the public interest, think and act entrepreneurially.

Assessment criteria

- preparation for classes (verification of outcomes: W).
- preparation and delivery of a presentation (verification of outcomes: W, U)
- group work (verification of outcomes: K)
- completion of short in-class tasks (verification of outcomes: K, U, W)
- project tasks completed during the semester (verification of outcomes: W, U, K)
- final test in written or oral form (verification of outcomes: W, U)
AI tools: The use of AI tools in this course is permitted in accordance with the recommendations outlined in Appendix No. 1 to Resolution No. 16 of the Didactic Council of the Institute of English Studies, University of Warsaw, dated 9 December 2025, available here: https://ia.uw.edu.pl/fileadmin/ilustracje/dokumenty/rada_dydaktyczna/Rules_for_the_Use_of_AI_Tools.pdf
https://aiassessmentscale.com/

Bibliography

Hurford, J. R., Heasley, B., & Smith, M. B. (2007). Semantics: a coursebook. Cambridge University Press.
Grundy, P. (2019). Doing pragmatics. Routledge.
Plag, I., Arndt-Lappe, S., Braun, M., & Schramm, M. (2015). Introduction to English linguistics. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG.
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., Hyams, N. M., Amberber, M., Cox, F., & Thornton, R. (2017). An Introduction to Language with Online Study Tools 12 Months. Cengage AU.
Yule, G. (2022). The study of language. Cambridge University Press.