1st Semester 2009/10: Empirically motivated logical representations in lexical semantics
- Instructors
- Raquel Fernández, Galit Sassoon.
If you are interested in this project, please contact the instructors by e-mail. - ECTS
- 6
- Description
- This is a logic and language project which combines formal semantics and empirical research to study issues in lexical semantics. The course will focus on the semantics of predicates, including gradable adjectives, multidimensional adjectives and nouns, antonyms, and vague predicates. The aim of the course is to use data-driven empirical methods to motivate or refute logic-based formal representations of predicate interpretation.
- Organisation
- The first week will involve lectures (assuming there are enough students interested in the course) where we will introduce the main theoretical issues and the empirical methodology. Before the course starts, we will make available a bibliography of relevant literature and students will read selected papers as preparation for the lectures, which will be followed by a discussion. Students will then define their own projects and research plans, which should include empirical work supporting or refuting an existing semantic proposal or new ideas proposed by the students. After the first week, we plan to have at least one group meeting per week, and meetings with individual students upon request.
- Assessment
- At the end of the course, students will submit a report of their research. Participation in the group meetings (including discussions during the first week) will also contribute to the final assessment.
- References