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Lecturer(s)
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Krappmann Marie, Mgr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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The lecture covers the following thematic areas within the linguistic discipline of semantics: 1. Fundamental Concepts in Semantics Basic concepts of the discipline of semantics; the subject matter of research in this linguistic field; the delimitation of the concept of meaning; methodological challenges; connections with other linguistic disciplines. 2. Historical Origins of Reflections on Meaning Early historical approaches to the study of meaning; the arbitrariness of the linguistic sign; the historical development of discussions concerning the motivation of linguistic signs; the conventional basis of the linguistic sign. (Plato: Cratylus) 3. Lexical Semantics Semantics at the lexical level; the concept of semes; attempts at semantic (componential) analysis; semantic relations; semantic fields; gaps in the lexical system. (Lyons, John: Semantics) 4. Lexical Semantics and the Mental Lexicon The relationship between lexical semantics and the mental lexicon; memory capacity and access to vocabulary; connections with Psycholinguistics; prototype theories; the function of metaphor in language. (Aitchison, Jean: Words in the Mind) 5. Theories of Reference and Meaning in Context Issues related to theories of reference; extension/intension; principles of successful reference: implicatures and reference-oriented models of the linguistic sign; meaning in context. (Ogden, C. K. / Richards, I. A.: The Meaning of Meaning; Malinowski, Bronisław: The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages) 6. Semantics at the Interface with Pragmatics Examples: deixis; domain-based deixis; direct and indirect deixis; direct and indirect anaphoric expressions. (Consten, Manfred: "Beißen sie?" - Indirekte Deixis und die Selektion von Referenzdomänen) 7. Sentence Semantics Truth conditions versus contextual meaning; the relationship between semantics and syntax; the "problem" of semantics in generative approaches. (Polenz, Peter von: Deutsche Satzsemantik) 8. Historical Semantics The development of historical semantics as a discipline; theories of semantic evolution and change; types of innovative communicative processes and their influence on changes in meaning; processes of conventionalization; typology of semantic change. (Fritz, Gerd: Historische Semantik)
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Lecture, Monologic Lecture(Interpretation, Training), Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming)
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Learning outcomes
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The aim is to introduce students to the following topics: 1. Basic concepts of the dicipline of "Semantics"; the subject of research in this linguistic discipline; definition of the concept of "meaning"; problems associated with the choice of methodology; points of contact with other linguistic disciplines 2. Historical origins of reflections on meaning; arbitrariness of linguistic signs; historical development of the discussion on the conditionality of linguistic signs; conventional anchoring of linguistic signs. (Plato: Cratylus) 3. Semantics at the lexical level; the problem of semes, attempts at seme (component) analysis; semantic relations; semantic fields; gaps in the lexical system (Lyons, John: Linguistic Semantics) 4. Semantics at the lexical level and mental lexicon; memory capacity and access to vocabulary; points of contact with psycholinguistics; prototype theories; the function of metaphor in language (Aichitson, Jean: Wörter im Kopf) 5. Reference theories; extension/intension; principles of successful reference: implicatures, reference-oriented models of linguistic signs; meaning in context (Ogden, C. K. / Richards I. A.: The Meaning of Meaning; Malinowski, Bronislav: The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages) 6. Semantics at the boundary of pragmatics; e.g.: deixis; domain-bound deixis; direct/indirect deixis; direct/indirect anaphoric expressions (Consten, Manfred: "Beißen sie?" - Indirekte Deixis und die Selektion von Referenzdomänen) 7. Sentence semantics; truth values versus contextual meaning; points of contact between semantics and syntax; the semantic "problem" in generative approaches. (Polenz, Peter von: Deutsche Satzsemantik) 8. Historical semantics; development of the discipline of historical semantics; theories of development and change in meaning, types of innovative communication processes and their influence on changes in meaning; processes of conventionalization; typology of changes in meaning (Fritz, Gerd: Historische Semantik)
Upon completion of the lecture, students will have a thorough understanding of the following thematic areas within the linguistic discipline of semantics: 1. Fundamental Concepts in Semantics Basic concepts of the discipline of semantics; the subject matter of research in this linguistic field; the delimitation of the concept of meaning; methodological challenges; connections with other linguistic disciplines. 2. Historical Origins of Reflections on Meaning Early historical approaches to the study of meaning; the arbitrariness of the linguistic sign; the historical development of discussions concerning the motivation of linguistic signs; the conventional basis of the linguistic sign. (Plato: Cratylus) 3. Lexical Semantics Semantics at the lexical level; the concept of semes; attempts at semantic (componential) analysis; semantic relations; semantic fields; gaps in the lexical system. (Lyons, John: Semantics) 4. Lexical Semantics and the Mental Lexicon The relationship between lexical semantics and the mental lexicon; memory capacity and access to vocabulary; connections with Psycholinguistics; prototype theories; the function of metaphor in language. (Aitchison, Jean: Words in the Mind) 5. Theories of Reference and Meaning in Context Issues related to theories of reference; extension/intension; principles of successful reference: implicatures and reference-oriented models of the linguistic sign; meaning in context. (Ogden, C. K. / Richards, I. A.: The Meaning of Meaning; Malinowski, Bronisław: The Problem of Meaning in Primitive Languages) 6. Semantics at the Interface with Pragmatics Examples: deixis; domain-based deixis; direct and indirect deixis; direct and indirect anaphoric expressions. (Consten, Manfred: "Beißen sie?" - Indirekte Deixis und die Selektion von Referenzdomänen) 7. Sentence Semantics Truth conditions versus contextual meaning; the relationship between semantics and syntax; the "problem" of semantics in generative approaches. (Polenz, Peter von: Deutsche Satzsemantik) 8. Historical Semantics The development of historical semantics as a discipline; theories of semantic evolution and change; types of innovative communicative processes and their influence on changes in meaning; processes of conventionalization; typology of semantic change. (Fritz, Gerd: Historische Semantik)
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Prerequisites
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The lecture is intended for advanced students who have no difficulty understanding academic spoken discourse in German.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Mark, Written exam
The lecture will be completed with a written exam. Regular attendance at lectures is recommended.
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Recommended literature
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Aitchison, Jean. (1997). Wörter im Kopf: eine Einführung in das mentale Lexikon.. Tübingen.
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Bartschat, Brigitte. (1996). Methoden der Sprachwissenschaft. Berlin.
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Bühler, Karl. (1965). Die Darstellungsfunktion der Sprache. Stuttgart.
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Bußmann, Hadumod. (2002). Lexikon der Sprachwissenschaft. Stuttgart.
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Fritz, Gerd. (2005). Einführung in die historische Semantik. Tübingen.
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Glück, Helmut (Hrsg.). (1993). Metzler Lexikon Sprache. Stuttgart/Weimar.
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Linke, Angelika; Nussbaumer, Markus; Portmann, Paul R. (2004). Studienbuch Linguistik. Tübingen.
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Ogden C. K. / Richards I. A. (1974). Die Bedeutung der Bedeutung. Eine Untersuchung über den Einfluß der Sprache auf das Denken und über die Wissenschaft des Symbolismus.. Frankfurt am Main.
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Polenz, Peter von. (1985). Deutsche Satzsemantik: Grundbegriffe des Zwischen-den-Zeilen-Lesens.. Berlin/New York.
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Saussure, Ferdinand de. (1967). Grundfragen der allgemeinen Sprachwissenschaft. Berlin.
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Schwarz, Monika; Chur, Jeannette, Jean. (2004). Semantik: ein Arbeitsbuch.. Tübingen.
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