WiSe 22/23: Ü-Semantics and Pragmatics I: History and Basic Concepts
Martin Konvicka
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What do we mean when we say that an expression, be it a morpheme, a word, a combination of words or an abstract construction, means something? This question will guide us through all the sessions of this semester.
In some of our sessions we will dive deeper into topics already familiar to you from your introductory classes, while in others we will enter uncharted territories by exploring new facets of meaning.
We will not only discuss meaning itself and how it can change, but also our ways of thinking about meaning and how they can change. Against this backdrop, we will, among other things,…
- …discuss the different ways of conceptualising lexical meaning.
- …untangle the relationship between truth, logic, and meaning.
- …question the separation of meaning and context.
- …reflect upon the connection of lexical and grammatical meaning.
- …consider how language influences our thinking and vice versa.
- …learn something about the history of semantics and pragmatics.
The modality of the course (synchronous or asynchronous, digital or in-person) will depend on the current pandemic situation during the semester. Follow the Blackboard page of the course for any updates.
Credit requirements are regular attendance and lively participation in the weekly discussions based on regular reading assignments.
close16 Class schedule
Regular appointments