Linguistics/Psychology 315/515
Prof. Suzanne Kemmer
Spring 2006

Completed problem assignments are to be submitted to WebCT via uploading to the Assignments module. They must be in the form of Word files, not .pdf. Late problem assignments, except with verified illness, must have some points deducted, the number depending on how late they are submitted. Turn them in on time even if not complete, and you can turn in a better version within the 24 hours grace period with little penalty. If you require more time than that, we will discuss the reasons, the time frame needed, and the penalty. My aim is to be reasonable, but at the same time keep in mind fairness to those who have managed all their no doubt equally pressing work so that they could still make their deadlines.

Reading Responses are also to be submitted to WebCT via uploading under the appropriate icon. These are generally due the day we discuss a reading, before class. It is possible to submit them up to 24 hours late without a reason, but since they are less useful to do after the class discussion (and probably easier), more than two lates affect your grade. If you miss even the grace period, but would still like the chance to make up the zero, contact the instructor as soon as possible and we will discuss the issue. Lates are much better than holes in your assignment record, since with a complete record, at least you have done as much work as the other students although you took more time. It is at the instructor's discretion whether to allow makeups. Anything after a week beyond the deadline is very late, and we have all moved on. So don't miss an assignment and let a lot of time go by before you contact the instructor.

DAY	DATE	TOPIC	READINGS AND SEMANTICS PROBLEMS
Th	Jan 12	Introduction. Lexical semantics. Intuition and data: first pass.	No reading.
Tu	Jan 17	What is meaning? Word meaning vs. other symbol systems. An example of exploring word meaning.	Begin Bolinger excerpt.
Th	Jan 19	Class cancelled, instructor illness.
Tu	Jan 24	Meaning components. Children's acquisition of lexical meaning.	Discussion of Bolinger excerpt.
Th	Jan 26	The Meaning Triangle. Referential vs. conceptual theories of meaning.	Ullman Ch 3 Semantics. Semantics Problem 1 posted.
Tu	Jan 31	Practicing semantic description. Some lexical relations. Synonymy, Homonymy, Polysemy, Antonymy.	Ullman, Ch. 3, cont. Recommended readings: Ullman Chapters 4, 5.
Th	Feb 2	Antonymy, cont. Kinds of antonyms. Finding structure in semantic fields. Taxonomies and Paradigms. European and American structuralist theories.	Excerpts from Tyler, Lehrer. Semantics Problem 1 due.
Tu	Feb 7	Lexical network structures.	Tyler and Lehrer, cont.
Th	Feb 9	Types of lexical structures. Eclectic vs. restricted theories. Folk vs. specialized classifications.	Fillmore I. (1978 CLS paper.) Semantics Problem 2 posted.
Tu	Feb 14	Taxonomies. Scenes and frames; Idealized Cognitive Models (ICMs).	Fillmore I, cont. Fillmore II (1975 BLS paper.)
Th	Feb 16	Prototypes; more on frames. Some lexical semantic domains. The human body; the 'body image' frame.	Fillmore II cont., Clark and Clark. Semantics Problem 2 due.
Tu	Feb 21	More lexical semantic domains. Space I; dimension.	Clark and Clark. Semantics Problem 3 posted.
Th	Feb 23	Cognitive biases in semantic systems. Human cognitive capacities.	Clark and Clark, cont. Kemmer lecture notes on Cognitive Capacities.
Tu	Feb 28	Cognitive capacities continued. The Figure/Ground asymmetry.
Th	Mar 2	Semantic compositionality and context.	Semantics Problem 3 due.
Tu	Mar 7	The semantics of everyday concepts (artefacts, animals)	Wierzbicka.
Th	Mar 9	Dictionaries and encyclopedias. Can we draw a line between them? Between semantics and pragmatics? Incorporating prototypes and frames in semantic analyses.	Wierzbicka cont.
Tu	Mar 14	Midterm Recess.	Semantics Problem 4 posted.
Th	Mar 16	Midterm Recess.
Tu	Mar 21	Taking stock of issues. The notion of Embodiment: language and cognition as embedded in the human body. Beginning of: Image schemas; conceptual projection.	No required reading. Recommended: Lakoff and Johnson 1980.
Th	Mar 23	More aspects of dimensional terms; metaphors and image schemas. Conceptual projection cont.; conceptual blending.	Turner reading, excerpt 1: pp. 26-37, 57-84. Recommended reading: Bierwisch 1970.
Tu	Mar 28	Conceptual blending continued.	Turner pp. 57-84 cont.; begin Turner excerpt 2, pp. 85-115. Semantics Problem 4 due Tuesday 9 a.m.
Th	Mar 30	More on image schemas in space and motion; metaphor reconceptualized as blending.	Turner excerpt 2, 85-115 cont.
Tu	Apr 4	Blending finish; using corpus data.	No additional reading this week. Reading response for Turner due
Th	Apr 6	Spring Recess.
Tu	Apr 11	Looking at corpus data cont. Discovering semantic properties. Methodological issues. Relation of corpus data and introspective data.	Semantics Problem 5 posted April 12.
Th	Apr 13	Space II. The semantics of location and motion events. Figure/Ground, Trajector/Landmark.	Talmy reading, excerpt I.
Tu	Apr 18	Lexicalization and conflation. Satellites.	Talmy, excerpt II.
Th	Apr 20	Finish Talmy. Lexical semantic change.	Traugott reading. Semantics Problem 5 due, 4/22, noon. Semantics Problem 6 cancelled. Last assignment is reading response on Traugott.
Tu	Apr 25	From lexical to grammatical: Grammaticalization.	Traugott, cont.
Th	Apr 27	Summary: Semantics, State of the Art.	Course Evaluations.

© 2001, 2006 Suzanne Kemmer
Last modified 22 April 2006