LIN 247H5F

Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics

Fall Session 2016 - Department of Language Studies
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Instructor: Dr. Michelle Troberg

Weekly meeting time: Thursdays 11-2pm in IB 390
E-mail: michelle.troberg@utoronto.ca
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Course Description and Goals

This course offers an introduction to semantics and pragmatics, the subfields of linguistics that
consider the different ways meaning is encoded in human language and in the context within
which language is used. The aim of the course is to introduce students to some of the central
ideas and the most important scholars in the field. The course examines possible ways of
describing and formalizing meaning at the level of the word, phrase, sentence, and discourse and
is meant to complement the students understanding of phonology, syntax, and morphology,
fostering a holistic understanding of linguistic analysis.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, the successful student should be able to:
recognize and explain the difference between sense and reference as they relate to the relationship
between language, thought, and reality.
recognize and analyze certain aspects of word meaning in terms of lexical and derivational
relations and semantic components, and further to demonstrate how word meaning relates to the
idea of compositionality.
identify semantic relations that hold between sentences (synonymy, entailment, presupposition,
and contradiction, for example) and to apply the possibility of characterizing them in terms of
truth relations.
analyze and evaluate how speakers classify sentences in terms of situation type, employing such
notions as Vendlers event categories, modality, and evidentiality.
analyze how speakers portray the participants in an event, using such terms as thematic roles,
grammatical relations, and voice.
recognize some of the different types of contextual information (deixis, world and background
knowledge, etc.) that hearers must access in order to understand an utterance; analyze how the
calculation of the meaning of an utterance depends on such information.
analyze the interpretation of an utterance in terms of inference and conversational implicature.
analyze utterances in terms of the various kinds of speech acts and recognize how speech acts are
signalled in different languages.
apply componential analysis and a logical metalanguage (predicate logic) in characterizing a
speakers semantic knowledge.
apply a denotational semantics using model theory to characterize the meaning of an event.
evaluate the advantages and limits of componential analysis and a logical metalanguage.
Prerequisite: LIN102H5 (or LIN100H5/LIN100H1)

Textbook: SAEED, John I. 2015. Semantics (4th edition). Wiley Blackwell.

Academic Conduct:
We have the expectation that students will treat each other and all faculty, staff, and TAs with
respect and honesty. Students can expect the same from us.
UTM students are subject to policies regarding academic honesty as set out by the Code of
Behaviour on Academic Matters. Please read and become familiar with policies regarding
academic honesty set out in this code:
http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm

Academic Offence
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to
ensuring that a degree from the University of Toronto is a strong signal of each students
individual academic achievement. As a result, the University treats cases of cheating and
plagiarism very seriously.
Potential offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
Using someone elses ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the
instructor.
Making up sources or facts.
Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment.
On tests and exams:
Using or possessing unauthorized aids.
Looking at someone elses answers during an exam or test.
Misrepresenting your identity.
In academic work:
Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including (but not
limited to) doctors notes.
All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in
the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what
constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods, you are
expected to seek out additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from
other institutional resources:
http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/osai/students/students

Accommodation
The University provides academic accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance
with the terms of the Ontario Human Rights Code. This occurs through a collaborative process
that acknowledges a collective obligation to develop an accessible learning environment that
both meets the needs of students and preserves the essential academic requirements of the
University's courses and programs.

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For more information on services and resources available to instructors and students, please
contact Tanya Lewis, Director, Academic Skills and Accessibility Services at 416-978-
6786; tanya.lewis@utoronto.ca

Equity
The University of Toronto is committed to equity and respect for diversity. All members of the
learning environment in this course should strive to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. As a
course instructor, I will neither condone nor tolerate behaviour that undermines the dignity or
self-esteem of any individual in this course and wish to be alerted to any attempt to create an
intimidating or hostile environment. It is our collective responsibility to create a space that is
inclusive and welcomes discussion. Discrimination, harassment and hate speech will not be
tolerated. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns you may contact the UTM Equity
and Diversity officer at edo.utm@utoronto.ca or the University of Toronto Mississauga Students
Union Vice President Equity at vpequity@utmsu.ca.

Academic Rights
You, as a student at UTM, have the right to:
receive a syllabus by the first day of class.
rely upon a syllabus once a course is started. An instructor may only change marks
assignments by following the University Assessment and Grading Practices Policy
provision 1.3.
have access to your instructor for consultation during a course or follow up with the
department chair if the instructor is unavailable.
ask the person who marked your term work for a re-evaluation if you feel it was not fairly
graded. You have up to one month from the date of return of the item to inquire about
the mark. If you are not satisfied with a re-evaluation, you may appeal to the instructor in
charge of the course if the instructor did not mark the work. If your work is remarked,
you must accept the resulting mark. You may only appeal a mark beyond the instructor if
the term work was worth at least 20% of the course mark.
receive at least one significant mark (15% for H courses, 25% for Y courses) before the
last day you can drop a course for H courses, and the last day of classes in the first week
of January for Y courses taught in the Fall/Winter terms.
submit handwritten essays so long as they are neatly written.
not have a term test worth 25% or more in the last two weeks of class.
retain intellectual property rights to your research.
receive all your assignments once graded.
view your final exams. To see a final exam, you must submit an online Exam -
Reproduction Request within 6 months of the exam. There is a small non-refundable fee.
privacy of your final grades.
arrange for representation from Downtown Legal Services (DLS), a representative from
the UTM Students Union (UTMSU), and/or other forms of support if you are charged
with an academic offence.

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How this course works:

Blackboard: You will be able to access all course content through your LIN247H5 lecture shell
within Blackboard. The course is divided into 12 lessons, approximately one per week.

Thursday class: A large part of your success in the course depends on your preparation for our
Thursday class. I expect you to have read the weekly reading and to have completed some
preliminary exercises before class. Every class will begin with a short quiz on basic notions
from the reading (your best 8 quizzes will count towards your final mark). We will then discuss,
review and apply the concepts introduced in the reading as a class and in small groups. This will
be a lot of fun! At the end of every class, Ill ask you to complete a ticket out the door, a
quick assessment of your ability to apply the concepts reviewed in class and an opportunity for
you to reflect on your learning that day.

Evaluation:

Quizzes (8) 10%

Participation 15%
Homework (4) 35%
Midterm Test 15%
Final Exam 25%

Quizzes: The quizzes are designed to be low-stakes learning tools (worth a little more than 1%
each). They will take 10-15 minutes and will assess your understanding of the basic concepts
introduced in the weeks reading. Your 8 BEST quizzes will count toward your final grade.

Homework assignments: The four homework assignments ask you to apply, analyze,
synthesize, and evaluate concepts that you will have had a chance to review and explore during
in-class discussion and application.
The penalty for a late assignment is 10% per day, up to 6 days, at which point we will no longer
accept it. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments submitted later in class or
that day will be subject to this penalty. If you know you will be absent when an assignment is
due, please submit it to me via email in advance of the class.

Participation: 10% for completion and quality of the ticket out the door assessments. 5% for
preparedness, contribution to class discussion, and demonstrated effort towards improving ones
understanding.

The Midterm Test (2 hours) will be delivered in class in the 5th week of class (October 6th). It is
cumulative and will be representative of all material discussed and reviewed in the course to that
point.

The Final Exam (3 hours) is set and administered by the Registrar at the UTM campus. All rules
set out by the Registrar for participation in the Final Exam apply. The exam is cumulative and
will be representative of all material discussed and reviewed in the course, with an emphasis on
the material covered after the Midterm Exam.

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Deadlines: Deadlines and dates of assignments and quizzes are subject to change and will be
confirmed by the instructor. Any changes will be announced on Blackboard and in class. If you
miss a quiz or an assignment deadline for reasons genuinely beyond your control, you may ask
for special consideration. In order to ask for special consideration, you must 1) contact your
instructor via email immediately upon missing a quiz or deadline: within 48 hours, and 2)
provide documentation indicating that the assessment was missed for reasons genuinely beyond
your control (e.g. UofT Medical Certificate, death certificate, etc.).

Regrade: If you feel that a question or questions were not graded correctly on an assignment or
test, or if there was an error in the calculation, please complete a regrade request form (posted on
the portal). Submit the completed form along with your assignment to me. I will then carefully
consider your work. Note that we will only consider an assignment for regarding up to four
weeks after it has been returned.

2015 FALL SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

September Preparation:
6-11 Read Chapter 1: The Issues
Thursday class (Sept. 8th):
Introductions
Discussion of course expectations and logistics
Review, discussion, application
Homework 1 (Chapters 1&2) assigned

September Preparation:
12-18 Read Chapter 2: Meaning, Thought, and Reality
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Sept. 15th):
Quiz#1
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door

September Preparation:
19-25 Read Chapter 3: Word meaning
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Sept. 22nd):
Homework 1 due
Quiz#2
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door

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September Preparation:
26 Read Chapter 4: Sentence Relations and Truth
October 2 Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Sept. 29th ):
Quiz#3
Review, discussion, application
Homework 1 returned
Ticket out the door

October Thursday class (Oct.6th):

3-9 Midterm exam (2 hours): Chapters 1-4

October Thanksgiving Holiday

10-16 Reading Break

October Preparation:
17-23 Read Chapter 5: Sentence Semantics 1: Situations
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Oct.20th):
Quiz#4
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door
Homework 2 (Chapters 5&6) assigned

October Preparation:
24-30 Read Chapter 6: Sentence Semantics 2: Participants
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Oct.27th):
Quiz#5
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door

October Preparation:
31 - Read Chapter 7: Context and Inference
November 6 Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Oct.Nov.3rd):
Homework 2 due
Quiz#6
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door
Homework 3 (Chapters 7&8) assigned

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November Preparation:
7-13 Read Chapter 8: Functions of Language: Speech as Action
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Nov.10th):
Quiz#7
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door

November Preparation:
14-20 Read Chapter 9: Meaning Components
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Nov.17th):
Homework 3 due
Quiz#8
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door
Homework 4 (Chapters 9&10) assigned

November Preparation:
21-27 Read Chapter 10: Formal Semantics
Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Nov.24th):
Quiz#9
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door

November Preparation:
28 Read Chapter 10: Formal Semantics
December 4 Solve assigned problems
Thursday class (Dec.1st):
Homework 4 due
Quiz#10
Review, discussion, application
Ticket out the door

December 6-7 STUDY BREAK

Study group
Pick up Homework 4

December FINAL EXAM: (exact location and time TBA)

8-20