Overview

For most people, if language is about anything, it is about meaning: about how nuances of meaning are conveyed but also about how meaning can get things done. This module will explore how language achieves this through words, sentences and the use of context. However, we will also drill down into the main parts of speech and look at the meaning behind nouns, verbs and adjectives, at how time is expressed and about how we can often in a conversation convey more meaning than would appear to be there in the literal interpretation of an utterance.

You will certainly gain a better understanding of the patterns and the intricacies underlying meaning but also, through your gradual yet increasing familiarity with the precise tools needed to describe meaning, you will develop your critical and analytical skills.

The course will cover topics such as the following, in a foundational manner:

What is meaning?

• Word meaning and sentence meaning.
  • Concepts and Mental representations.
  • Sense and Lexical relations (homonymy, synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy, meronymy). WordNet.
  • The semantics of Adjectives, Nouns and Verbs
  • Tense and Time.
  • Modality and Mood
  • Sentence Relations, Truth and Logic. Set Theory
  • Entailment and Presupposition
• Pragmatics, the Cooperative Principle and Implicature

Assessment Strategy

Threshold 40% - 50% (D- to D+) Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows: 1.Generally accurate but with omissions and errors.2.Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning.3.Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions.4.Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

Good 50% - 70% (C- to B+) Submitted work is competent throughout and may be distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It: 1.Demonstrates good or very good structure and logically developed arguments.2.Draws at least in parts on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student.3.Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning.4.Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

Excellent 70% + (A- to A*) Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: 1.Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent.2.Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study.3.Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

Learning Outcomes

• Interpret language data in terms of its pragmatic content, functions and use.

• Interpret language data in terms of its semantic content.

• Recognise and describe basic pragmatic phenomena using appropriate terminology and concepts.

• Recognise and describe basic semantic phenomena using appropriate terminology and concepts.