Introduction to semantics 3003-P1A1SW
The aim of the lectures is to acquaint students with the main problems of the semantics of sentences. At the beginning the place of semantic research among other linguistic disciplines will be discussed. Particular emphasis will be placed on the singling out the subjects in which the semantics is interested and on the pointing out the essential tools and methods of the analysis of meaning. We will give some thought to the problem what the utterance of natural language is and if the semantics of sentences significantly differs from the lexical semantics. Next we will go to the characterization of basic semantic relations. The important point of the lectures will be the attempt to outline the difference between narrowly understood meaning and pragmatics of a given expression. We will devote most of time to different levels of semantic organization of sentences (among others to the predicate-argument and thematic-rhematic structures). Referring to J.L. Austin’s theory, we will single out the locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary aspects of the utterance. Finally we will try to raise an issue, what meaning could an utterance have in broader context. Citing H.P. Grice we will distinguish what is said in the utterance and what is conversationally implicated in it.
1. Semantics as linguistic discipline. Objects, aims and methods of contemporary research on meaning. Many-sidedness of semantic research. Lexical semantics and semantics of sentences.
2. What we describe? Problems of text segmentation. The role of proportions in linguistic research. Real language entities in the structure of sentence.
3. Basic semantic relations: synonymy, antonymy, conversion, hyponymy. Ambiguity: flaw in language or in description of language.
4. Metalanguage of semantic description. Requirements the classical definition of meaning should meet. Non-classical descriptions of meaning.
5. Semantics vs. pragmatics. Pragmatic properties of synonymous expressions. Meaning and so-called semantic connotation. The problem of so-called contextual meanings.
6. Putting the sentence together with lexical units. Indices and predicates, their place in language. Types and functions of referential expressions.
7. Fundamental predicate-argument structure as a schema of syntactic proceeding. Description of predicates. Arguments and determinants. Predicates of a lower and higher order.
8. Sentence and utterance. Assertion, negation, modality.
9. Thematic-rhematic structure of sentences. Theme. Thematic dictum (pressupositions). Rheme. Hierarchical structure of sentences.
10. Aspects of utterance: locutionary, illocutionary and perlocutionary .Austin’s model of speech act.
11. Speaking and conversationally implicating according to Grice.
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
After finishing the subject student:
- applies basic terms, categories and definitions in the field of linguistic semantics;,
- understands what the utterance of natural language is and what are the elements of its semantic structure,
- points out the main aspects of the meaning of sentences,
- points out the difference between semantic and pragmatic aspects of proposition,
- situates the problems of the semantics of sentences among other linguistic problems,
- reads and analyzes linguistic texts,
- perceives differences between different levels of sentence,
- makes attempts to analyze diverse utterances of Polish language on one’s own,
- attentively and actively listens to other people,
- follows with understanding through the line of thinking of his partners of communication,
- selects and organizes information obtained in process of communication.
Assessment criteria
- checking attendance
- two written assignments
- final written test
Bibliography
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Austin J. L., 1993, Jak działać słowami [w:] tegoż: Mówienie i poznawanie, przeł. B. Chwedeńczuk, PWN, Warszawa s. 545-709.
Beaugrande R. A.,Dressler W. U., „Wstęp do lingwistyki tekstu”, Warszawa 1990.
Bednarek A., Grochowski M., 1993, Zadania z semantyki, UMK, Toruń r. II, VI.
Bogusławski A., 1977, Problems of the Thematic-Rhematic Structure of Sentences, Warszawa PWN (rozdział I).
Bogusławski A., 1973, Właściwości pragmatyczne wyrażeń równoznacznych [w:] „Pamiętnik Literacki” R. 64 / 3.
Bogusławski A., 1976, O zasadach rejestracji jednostek języka [w:] „Poradnik Językowy” 1976 / 8, s. 356-364.
Bogusławski A., M. Danielewiczowa, 2005, Verba polona abscondita. Sonda słownikowa III, Katedra Lingwistyki Formalnej, Warszawa, Wstęp.
Bühler K., 2004, Teoria języka, przeł. J. Koźbiał, Kraków, Uniwersitas, s. 25-34, 72-81.
Grice H. P., (1968), Logika i konwersacja, przeł. J. Wajszczuk, [w:] „Przegląd Humanistyczny” 1977 nr 6, s. 85-99 lub Logika a konwersacja, przeł. B. Stanosz, [w:] Język w świetle nauki, red. B. Stanosz, Warszawa 1980: Czytelnik, s. 91-114.
Grochowski M., 1982, Zarys leksykologii i leksykografii, UMK, Toruń s. 9-14, r. II i III.
Grochowski M., 1993, Obiekty, cele i metody definiowania a rodzaje definicji [w:] J. Bartmiński, R. Tokarski (red.) O definicjach i definiowaniu, UMCS, Lublin s. 35-45.
Grzegorczykowa R., 1990, Wprowadzenie do semantyki językoznawczej, PWN, Warszawa.
Lyons J., 1975, Wstęp do językoznawstwa, przeł. K. Bogacki, PWN, Warszawa, rozdz. 2, 9,10.
Lyons J., 1984, 1989, Semantyka 1-2, przeł. A. Weinsberg, PWN, Warszawa.
F. de Saussure, 2002, Kurs językoznawstwa ogólnego, przeł. K. Kasprzyk, PWN, Warszawa, Wstęp, r. 3, 4, 5; Cz. I r. 1, 2, 3; Cz. II; Cz. III r. 4.
Wierzbicka A., 1975, W poszukiwaniu tradycji. Idee semantyczne Leibniza. [w:] Pamiętnik Literacki L XVI / 1975.
Wierzbicka A., 2006, Semantyka. Pojęcia elementarne i uniwersalne, Wyd. UMCS, Lublin.
Additional information
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