Einführung in die formale Semantik/ Introduction to formal semantics (Summer 2026)

Time & Location:

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

Exercises/Übung
Group A: Mi 10:15 – 11:45 Gebäude C7 2 / Seminarraum -1.05
Group B: Do 14:15 – 15:45 Gebäude C7 2 / Seminarraum -1.05
Group C: Do 16:15 – 17:45 Gebäude C7 2 / Seminarraum -1.05

Instructors: Dr Volha Petukhova

***ANNOUNCEMENTS***

Veranstaltungsnr. in LSF 162076

Please join the course Teams

All class material will be published in Teams!

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

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
• lambda abstraction and lambda conversion
• type theory
• the relationship between syntactic and semantic structure
• distributional semantics
• language models

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 (120 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
Jurafsky & Martin (2024, draft). Speech and Language Processing (3rd edition). Stanford 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 Typed Lambda

Reading:
Coppock, E., and Champollion, L. (2021). Invitation to formal semantics. Manuscript, Boston University and New
York University (Ch.4-5)

4. Function Application

Lecture (04.05.2026)
Tutorial Group A (06.05.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr3 (deadline 05.05.2026)
Tutorial Group B & C (07.05.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr3 (deadline 05.05.2026)

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

5. Beyond Function Application

Lecture (11.05.2026)
Tutorial Group A (13.05.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr4 (deadline 12.05.2026)
Tutorial Group B & C no class EXERCISE SHEET Nr4 (deadline 12.05.2026)

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

6. Aspect & Tense

Lecture (18.05.2026)
Tutorial Group A (20.05.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 5 (deadline 19.05.2026)
Tutorial Group B & C (21.05.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 5 (deadline 19.05.2026)

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

25.05.2026 no lecture, tutorials upon request

7. Event Semantics

Lecture (01.06.2026)
Tutorial Group A (03.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 6 (deadline 02.06.2026)
Tutorial Group B & C no class EXERCISE SHEET Nr 6 (deadline 02.06.2026)

Handouts

8. Distributional semantics (part I)

Lecture (08.06.2026)
Tutorial Group A (10.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 7 (deadline 09.06.2026)
Tutorial Group B & C (11.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 7 (deadline 09.06.2026)

Reading:
TBA

9. Distributional semantics (part II)

Lecture (15.06.2026)
Tutorial Group A (17.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 8 (deadline 16.06.2026)
Tutorial Group B & C (18.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 8 (deadline 16.06.2026)

Reading:
TBA

10. Language models

Lecture (22.06.2026)
Tutorial Group A (24.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 9 (deadline 23.07.2025)
Tutorial Group B &C (25.06.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 9 (deadline 23.07.2025)

Reading:
TBA

RECAP

Lecture (29.06.2026) RECAP; Exam preparation (Probeklausur)

Tutorial Group A (01.07.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 10 (deadline 30.06.2026) & Exam preparation (Probeklausur)
Tutorial Group B & C (02.07.2026) EXERCISE SHEET Nr 10 (deadline 30.06.2026) & Exam preparation (Probeklausur)

For any questions, please send an email to:
v.petukhova@lsv.uni-saarland.de
Use subject tag: [IFS_25]