Department of Linguistics and Oriental Languages

Linguistics 626

Lexical Semantics

Slides

Description

The study of word meaning

1. Wait, I thought semantics was the study of word meaning.
2. Semantics is the study of literal meaning of all kinds of linguistic units; lexcial semantics focuses on the contribution of words to literal meaning.

   Topics covered include

   • Componential Semantics
   • Lexical Decomposition
   • Universals versus Whorf-Sapir
     1. Classifiers
     2. Color terms
     3. Kinship terms
     4. Plurals/singulars
   • Lexical Aspect
   • Valence and Lexical Semantics
   • Distributional (word vector) Semantics

   The course will use one required text Theories of Lexical Meaning (Doirk Geeraerts) but will also make heavy use of online readings.

   Outline

   Full Course outline

   Prerequisites and Grading

   No course pre-requisites. In particular for this version of the course.

   Grading will be based on exercises, student presentations, a final paper outline, and a final paper.

   Place and Time

   Mon 1600-1840 SH-221
   

   Office Hours

   Tu 3:30-4:30 Th 0930-1030 Tu Th 1230-1330 SHW 238
   

   Contact Info

   Mailing address:
   gawron at mail dot sdsu dot edu
   Department of Linguistics and Oriental Languages
   San Diego State University
   5500 Campanile Drive
   San Diego, CA 92182-7727
   Telephone: (619) 594-0252
   Office location: SHW, room 243