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Syntax and semantics: Language structure and interpretation (2026/2027: Semester 1 – Fall)
Cursusdoel
After completing this course students are able to:
Relationship between assessment and learning goals:
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Vakinhoudelijk
In Fall 2025, this course has a new title 'Syntax and semantics'. The course content remains the same.
The form of an utterance is essential to the meaning it conveys; in fact, essential to whether it conveys meaning at all. The three words ‘chase’, ‘mice’, and ‘cats’, can be combined in six logically possible orders, but only two of the arrangements produce a sentence that is interpretable in English (‘Mice chase cats’ and ‘Cats chase mice’). The rules of syntax determine which logical possibilities are sentences, while semantics relates to their interpretation.
Describing the variety in languages requires accurate categorization of the syntactic and semantic function of elements in languages, which in turn allows important insights regarding the similarities between very different languages. Furthermore, a basic grasp of syntax and semantics is crucial to understanding the dominant issues in modern linguistics, as well as linguistics-related issues in philosophy and cognitive science.
This course begins with an introduction to the philosophical and scientific background for the study of syntax and meaning. Next, fundamental syntactic categories and concepts, and their relationship to semantic notions relevant for the study of language are explored. Topics such as the elements of lexical meaning, phrase structure, syntactic movement, and the computation of sentence meaning are treated and placed within a theoretical context.
This course serves as a basis for further specialization in fields where insights about the structure and meaning of language are relevant, including linguistics, philosophy, psychology, cognitive science and computer science.
Format
The class meets twice a week. Students are expected to have read assigned readings prior to class meetings. Class meetings involve combination of discussion, (guest) lecture and student presentations. Students work on and present their own research paper topics after the exam.
The form of an utterance is essential to the meaning it conveys; in fact, essential to whether it conveys meaning at all. The three words ‘chase’, ‘mice’, and ‘cats’, can be combined in six logically possible orders, but only two of the arrangements produce a sentence that is interpretable in English (‘Mice chase cats’ and ‘Cats chase mice’). The rules of syntax determine which logical possibilities are sentences, while semantics relates to their interpretation.
Describing the variety in languages requires accurate categorization of the syntactic and semantic function of elements in languages, which in turn allows important insights regarding the similarities between very different languages. Furthermore, a basic grasp of syntax and semantics is crucial to understanding the dominant issues in modern linguistics, as well as linguistics-related issues in philosophy and cognitive science.
This course begins with an introduction to the philosophical and scientific background for the study of syntax and meaning. Next, fundamental syntactic categories and concepts, and their relationship to semantic notions relevant for the study of language are explored. Topics such as the elements of lexical meaning, phrase structure, syntactic movement, and the computation of sentence meaning are treated and placed within a theoretical context.
This course serves as a basis for further specialization in fields where insights about the structure and meaning of language are relevant, including linguistics, philosophy, psychology, cognitive science and computer science.
Format
The class meets twice a week. Students are expected to have read assigned readings prior to class meetings. Class meetings involve combination of discussion, (guest) lecture and student presentations. Students work on and present their own research paper topics after the exam.
Werkvormen
UCU HUM 2 course
Toetsing
participation
Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75
paper
Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5
written assignments
Verplicht | Weging 40% | ECTS 3
presentation
Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75
*midterm FEEDBACK*
Niet verplicht
take home exam
Verplicht | Weging 20% | ECTS 1,5
Ingangseisen en voorkennis
Ingangseisen
Er moet voldaan zijn aan de cursus:
Voorkennis
Er is geen informatie over benodigde voorkennis bekend.
Voertalen
- Engels
Competenties
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Academisch schrijven
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Internationale en interculturele oriëntatie
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Interdisciplinariteit
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Kritisch lezen
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Onderzoeksvaardigheden
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Presenteren
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Talen
Cursusmomenten
Gerelateerde studies
Tentamens
Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus
Verplicht materiaal
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BOEKBarrie, Michael. 2022. Generative Syntax: A cross-linguistic approach (Textbooks in Language Sciences). Berlin: Language Science Press. This book is open access, and does not need to be pre-ordered.
Aanbevolen materiaal
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BOEKMurphy, M. Lynne. 2010. Lexical Meaning. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-86031-4 (hardback) – ISBN 978-0-521-67764-6 (paperback).
Coördinator
| dr. N. Korotkova | n.korotkova@uu.nl |
Docenten
| dr. N. Korotkova | n.korotkova@uu.nl |
Inschrijving
Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.
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