Semantics 2, SoSe 2017

Semantics 2 Richter

Course description

This course presupposes a background in formal semantics compatible with the material discussed in Semantics 1. Based on some chapters of Sebastian Löbner's introductory textbook we investigate various more advanced topics in natural language semantics, possibly including (but not limited to) different types of meaning, definiteness vs. indefiniteness, quantification, predication, and cognition. These will be related to the architecture of constrained-based semantics.

Sebastian Löbner (2013): Understanding Semantics. Routledge. Second Edition.

Semantics 2 Sailer

Course description

In this course, we will look at phenomena that connect semantics and pragmatics. In particular, we look at presuppositions and implicatures, such as those occurring in the following dialogue.

A: "Where will you go on vacation this summer?"

B: "You know, I need to finish my thesis."

A presupposes that B will go on vacation. B asserts that s/he has some obligation. In the dialogue, this triggers the implicature that B will not go on vacation in the summer but rather work on their thesis.

We will show how important aspects of these phenomena can be integrated into the framework of combinatorial semantics introduced in our Semantics 1 class.

Entrance test

Please send your solution to the following test to sailer@em.uni-frankfurt.de

Entrance test: File:SoSe17-Semantics2-EntranceTest.pdf