Einführung in die formale Semantik/ Introduction to formal semantics (Summer 2023)

Time & Location:

Lecture/Vorlesung: Monday 10:15 – 11:45 Gebäude B3 2 / HÖRSAAL 0.03

Exercises/Übung
Group 1: Wednesday 10:15 – 11:45 Gebäude C7 2 / Seminarraum -1.05
Group 2: Thursday 14:15 – 15:45 Gebäude C7 2 / Seminarraum -1.05

Instructors: Dr Volha Petukhova, Nicolaie Dominik Dascalu, Florian Kandra

***ANNOUNCEMENTS***

Veranstaltungsnr. in LSF 141338

Please join the course MS Team

All class material will be published in Teams!

Study Program: Bachelor CoLi and BA Language Science (WP2)

Description:
This course introduces the basic concepts and formal tools to compute the meaning of natural language expressions. In particular the topics include

• first order predicate logic (review)
• modal and temporal logic
• event semantics
• type theory, extensional as well as intensional
• lambda abstraction and lambda conversion
• the relationship between syntactic and semantic structure

Prerequisites:

Mathematical Foundations: Logic or good working knowledge of first order predicate logic

Organisation:

The course carries 6 credits. To get these credits you have to pass a written exam (90 min).
There is a deadline for registering for the written exam TBA

Basic reading:

Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University

Additional reading:

Winter, Y. (2016). Elements of formal semantics: An introduction to the mathematical theory of meaning in natural language. Edinburgh University Press.
L.T.F. Gamut, Logic, Language, and Meaning, Vol. 2: Intensional Logic and Logical Grammar. U of Chicago Press, 1991.

Exercise tool: Lambda Calculator

Detailed Plan of Lectures and Tutorials

1. Meaning and Form

Reading:
Winter, Y. (2016). Elements of formal semantics: An introduction to the mathematical theory of meaning in natural language. Edinburgh University Press. (Ch. 1-2)
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.1)

2. Inference

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.1)

3. Predication and Argumentation

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New
York University (Ch.4)

4. Typed Lambda

Lecture (08.05.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (10.05) EXERCISE SHEET Nr3 (deadline 09.05)
Tutorial Group 2 (11.05) EXERCISE SHEET Nr3 (deadline 09.05)

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.5)

5. Function Application

Lecture (15.05.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (17.05) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 4 (deadline 16.05)
Tutorial Group 2 (18.05) no class

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New
York University (Ch.6)

6. Beyond Function Application

Lecture (22.05.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (24.05) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 5 (deadline 23.05)
Tutorial Group 2 (25.05) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 5 (deadline 23.05)

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.7)

7. Presupposition

Lecture (29.05.2023) no lecture due to Whit Monday
Tutorial Group 1 (31.05) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 6 (deadline 30.05)
Tutorial Group 2 (01.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 6 (deadline 30.05)

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.10)

8. Aspect

Lecture (05.06.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (07.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 7 (deadline 06.06)
Tutorial Group 2 (08.06) no class due to Corpus Christi

Handouts

9. Tense

Lecture (12.06.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (14.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 8 (deadline 11.06)
Tutorial Group 2 (15.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 8 (deadline 11.06)

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.12.4-12.6)

10. Modal & Intensional Logic

Lecture (19.06.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (21.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 9 (deadline 20.06)
Tutorial Group 2 (22.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 9 (deadline 20.06)

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.13)
Von Fintel, K., & Heim, I. (2011). Intensional semantics. Unpublished Lecture Notes.

11. Event semantics

Lecture (26.06.2023)
Tutorial Group 1 (28.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 10 (deadline 27.06)
Tutorial Group 2 (29.06) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 10 (deadline 27.06)

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New York University (Ch.11)

RECAP

Lecture (03.07.2023) SLIDES
Tutorial Group 1 (05.07) Exam preparation (Probeklausur)
Tutorial Group 2 (06.07) Exam preparation (Probeklausur)
HILFEBLATT

For any questions, please send an email to:
v.petukhova@lsv.uni-saarland.de
Use subject tag: [IFS_23]