Semantics and Pragmatics

This course introduces students to the study of meaning at the levels of semantics and pragmatics. The course investigates topics in semantics and pragmatics including how meaning is expressed in natural language and the principles that lie behind the interpretation of utterances in specific situations. The issues discussed include the problems traditionally associated with semantics and logic (e.g., truth conditions, presupposition, entailments), as well as topics associated with modern semantics and pragmatics (e.g., implicatures, speech acts, linguistic politeness).

To acquaint students with the theoretical and methodological principles of two branches of linguistics – semantics and pragmatics – and application of these principles.

English level C1/C2 according to CEFR.

The place of semantics and pragmatics in the system of branches of linguistics. The relationship between semantics and pragmatics. The main subfields of semantics: lexical semantics, cognitive semantics, contrastive semantics, computational semantics. The expression and perception of meanings in language: words, text and context. Linguistic and pragmatic meanings. Relationship between meanings. Deixis and deictic expressions. Reference and inference. Conversational implicature. Presuppositions. The theory of speech acts. The theory of politeness. A pragmatic analysis of conversation.

1. The place of semantics and pragmatics in the system of branches of linguistics defined properly and differences between semantics and pragmatics explained in detail. 2. The key terms of semantics and pragmatics identified and defined correctly. 3. The meaning of language units at different language levels (word, phrase, sentence, and text) studied and defined properly. 4. Pragmatic aspects of conversation analysed properly. 5. The theory of speech acts applied properly in different linguistic contexts.