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Semantics

Objectives

a) to define the field of study of semantics and lexical 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 that 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 natural languages

General characterization

Code

722131082

Credits

10

Responsible teacher

Available soon

Hours

Weekly - 3 letivas + 1 tutorial

Total - Available soon

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

None.

Bibliography

CAMPOS, M. H.. Tempo, aspecto e modalidade. Porto, Porto Editora, 1997;
BAKER, C.. Lexical Semantics. In Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science, Macmillan, 2003;
BINNICK, R. I. (ed), The Oxford Handbook of Tense and Aspect. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012;
GEERAERTS, D.. Theories of Lexical Semantics, Oxford University Press, 2010;
MARTINICH, A. P.. (ed). The Philosophy of language. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990;
 

PALMER, F.R.. Mood and Modality. Cambridge, CUP, 2001;
PUSTEJOVSKY, J.. The Generative Lexicon, Massachussets: MIT Press, 1995.

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.
In class teaching

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%).

Subject matter

A – Lexical semantics: 1. Object, units, models. 2. Decomposicional analysis of meaning. 2.1 The Generative Lexicon model: assumptions, representation levels, mecanisms. 3. Case studies/Phenomena. 3.1 Semantic types: inheritance; regular polysemy; complex types and co-predication. 3.2 Semantics-syntax interface:meaning in context, co-composition; selective binding; semantic incorporation.
B – Sentence semantics: models and theories 1. Reference construction; 1.1 Referential and non-referential descriptions: nominal determination operations and semantic formatting of nouns; 2. Time/tense reference and aspectual reference: Aktionsart and grammatical aspect; markers of perfect and non-perfect aspect, the concept of telecity. 3. – Mood, modality and modal values; 3.1 Epistemic and non-epistemic modality; relations between time/tense and modality.
C- Case studies: transcategoriality and interfaces in semantic analysis