Course: Theory of Lexical Meaning

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Course title Theory of Lexical Meaning
Course code KOL/VTLV
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminar
Level of course Master
Year of study not specified
Semester Winter and summer
Number of ECTS credits 4
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
Course content
1) What is lexical semantics: investigation of the general situation definition of the term lexical semantics, presentation of various possible classifications of theories and models, an overview of topoi in lexical-semantic research from the standpoint of theory of lexical meaning 2) Structural semantics: European and American origins of theory of meaning structuralist doctrine in lexical semantics, first and classical proponents (Wiesgerber, Pottier, Lyons), anthropological motivation, theory of binary oppositions, Hjelmslevian background, Nida's concept of lexical meaning 3) (Post)structural semantics: between text and oppositions application of structuralist methods in the environment of developing text theory, relation between dictionary and encyclopaedia, dynamic and processual semantics, post-structuralist approaches 4) Generativist semantics: entering people's minds? theoretical background and form of Katz-Fodor semantics model, semantics anomality, disambiguation problem, semantic theory as complement of syntactic model, relation between feature semantics and pragmatics in linguistic models, 5) Neo-structural approaches 1: natives anthropological model on Anna Wierzbicka, semantic primitives/universals, expert X folk semantics 6) Neo-structural (generativist) approaches 2: 3-D model, Aristotle and the metonymy machine Ray Jackendoff's model, semantics as part of multi-modal concept of cognitive processing of language, critique of semantic postulates, Generative Lexicon of James Pustejovsky, relation between dictionary and encyclopaedia in the computation model, automation of regular polysemy, qualia as universal principles of semantic classification 7) Computational lexical semantics: know the neighbour, and you'll know the meaning corpus lexical semantics, problem of collocation, statistically oriented models of meaning, dynamics of meaning in the corpus paradigm, problem of lexical unit, WordNet 8) Cognitive semantics 1: metaphors and prototypes theory of cognitive metaphor and IKM model of George Lakoff, theory of prototypes in lexical semantics 9) Cognitive semantics 2: organized encyclopaedia Ronald Langacker's encyclopaedic concept of meaning, construction of meaning in communication, domain theory, profile/base organisation, perception basis 10) Cognitive semantics 3: from cases to frames development of Fillmore's theory, case theory and frame theory, Frame-Net, lexicographic implications (Fillmore-Atkins) 11) Cultural-cognitive semantics concepts of stereotype and connotation, reflection of world in language, phraseology 12) Theory of lexical concepts and cognitive models: lexical meaning and situated cognition relation between linguistic content and conceptual content, LASS theory as cognitive basis for interaction between language and non-language domains of cognition, concept of rich content

Learning activities and teaching methods
Lecture, Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming), Work with Text (with Book, Textbook), Methods of Written Work
Learning outcomes
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with several basic approaches to the issue of lexical meaning as it was formulated by several currents of research starting from mid-20th century until the present day. Based on lectures and commented reading of primary sources the manifold ways of understanding the collocation "lexical meaning" will be shown. The term "meaning" will be demonstrated as dependent on individual theories, whereas for each of them its basic assumptions, advantages and limitations will be shown and the most problematic places of conceptual clashes and controversies will be pointed out. The aforementioned comparison will serve not only as an illustration of development of a partial linguistic discipline, but rather also as a reflection of changes of form and goals of modern linguistics as such.
Students will have grasp of the basic and current themes of lexical semantics They will be able to navigate the terminology and related theoretical background. They will be able to identify advantages and drawback of individual concepts of "lexical meaning" based on understanding general linguistic background of individual types of description.
Prerequisites
Elementary reading knowledge of English.

Assessment methods and criteria
Systematic Observation of Student, Seminar Work

1. Regular presence in class 2. Preparation for classes (assignments, knowledge of required readings, presentations), active participation in class 3. Written essay / encyclopaedic entry
Recommended literature
  • Cruse, A. (2000). Meaning in Language: an introduction to semantics and pragmatics. Oxford.
  • Eco, U., & Sedláček, M. (2009). Teorie sémiotiky. Praha: Argo.
  • Evans, V. ? Green, M. (2006). Cognitive Linguistics. An Introduction. Edinburgh.
  • Geeraerts, J. (2010). Theories of lexical semantics. Oxford.
  • Lyons, John. (1996). Linguistic Semantics: an introduction. Cambrdige.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester
Faculty: Faculty of Arts Study plan (Version): General Lingvistics and Theory of Communication (2014) Category: Philological sciences - Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: -