Ling 116a.

Introduction to semantics
Fall 07
Boylston 303
Gennaro Chierchia

Syllabus

1. The notion of semantic competence (entailment, presupposition, implicature)

What is knowledge of meaning? How do speakers understand expressions of their
language? In particular, how can one effortlessly understand sentences never
encountered before?
We will articulate and defend the view that knowledge of meaning is inherently
relational: it involves being able to locate an expression in a network of relationships
with other expressions and to reason with and about them. We will define and learn to
identify a core set of semantic relationhips.

2. Truth, reference, compositionality. Argument structure and connectives.

What is the core semantics of clauses? How are parts of speech (Nouns, Verbs,
Adjectives, Prepositions, et.c) interpreted? And how do their interpretations fit with
each other?
We will argue that our capacity to attach meanings to symbols is grounded in a
capacity to reason and infer. We understand each other because we spontaneously
develop a logic in tandem with and as part of language.
Reference and truth are key notions in developing this idea into an empirically
effective and computationally tractable approach to linguistic meaning and
communication.

3. Quantifiers (conservativity, negative polarity)

A noun phrase comes with articles and quantifiers (every, some, most,…). These
elements enable us to exchange general information about universes of discourse
without having to refer to particular entities. They are one of the planks of the
expressive power of language. How does quantification work in the languages of the
world?

4. Modification, relative clauses and binding.

Through modification of nouns and verbs we are able to extend indefinitely the
boundary of any lexicon. Modification is useful, in fact fundamental, to understand
how syntax and semantics interact and to see the recursive nature of language at
work.

5. Logical Form
The claim that meaning arises out of the convergence of syntax and logic takes on a
precise, empirically falsifiable form.
6. Internalism, externalism and other foundational issues
Is meaning in the mind? Or is it in the relation of symbols with aspects of the
world? What role can modern linguistic semantics play with respect to questions of
this sort?

Requirements: Readings (see below). Weekly assignments. Handed out on Th, due on Tu
(70%); final take home (30%).

Readings. Class handouts. Also selected sections from:

G. Chierchia and S. Mc Connell-Ginet Meaning and Grammar, MIT Press, 2000 (2nd ed.)
Further recommended readings from:
I. Heim and A. Kratzer Semantics in Generative Grammar, Blackwell, 1998.