Semantic Theory

Lecturer:	Noortje Venhuizen
Place:	Geb. C72, Seminarraum (1.12)
Time:	Tue 10-12, Thu 10-12
Starts:	12.04.2018

Overview

This course provides knowledge about phenomena, formalisms and methods in natural-language semantics, which form the basis for deep semantic processing and provide valuable background information for semantic processing in general.

Topics of this course include:

Sentence semantics: Higher-order logic and type-theoretical semantics (Montague Grammar); semantics construction and the syntax-semantics interface; quantifier scope and generalized quantifiers
Lexical semantics: Event semantics and tense; semantic roles and frames; plurals, mass terms, and collective predicates
Discourse semantics: Definite and indefinite noun phrases, anaphora, Discourse Representation Theory (DRT)

Exercises and Exam

There will be several take-home exercises, which you have to complete to be admitted to the final exam. More details can be found here.

Prerequisites

Familiarity with first-order predicate logic

Background literature

Gamut, Logic, Language, and Meaning, Vol. 2, Univ. of Chicago Press, 1991
Kamp/Reyle, From Discourse to Logic, Kluwer, 1993

Role in the degree programmes

M.Sc. Program: Core course
Area: L (Linguistics)
Standard time slot 2nd semester.
Diplomstudiengang Computerlinguistik: Pflicht; Wahlpflichtveranstaltung für MA-NF

Leistungspunkte

6 CP