ID:
501160
Duration (hours):
36
CFU:
6
SSD:
GLOTTOLOGIA E LINGUISTICA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 22/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
In this course we learn how to conduct semantic analysis at the lexical and compositional level, focusing on the interplay between lexical representations, syntactic forms and pragmatics. The course privileges a corpus-based approach to linguistic investigation.
Course Prerequisites
Familiarity with basic notion in general linguistics, particularly syntax, semantics and pragmatics, as they are offered in the three-year Bachelor's degrees in Humanities.
Teaching Methods
Lectures
Slides
Group seminars aiming at examining in more depth the theories introduced and discussed in class through dedicated readings.
Slides
Group seminars aiming at examining in more depth the theories introduced and discussed in class through dedicated readings.
Assessment Methods
Final oral exam covering the learning material (texts, slides) from the entire course. (up to 15 points)
Final assignment (max 5 pages) reporting the results of an in-depth corpus-based analysis of a semantic phenomenon, using one of the theories discussed in class. The text in pdf format (5 pages incuding references and excluding Tables and Figures) must be sent to jezek@unipv.it at the latest 7 days before the exam. (up to 10 point)
Presentation during the seminars. (up to 5 points)
Final assignment (max 5 pages) reporting the results of an in-depth corpus-based analysis of a semantic phenomenon, using one of the theories discussed in class. The text in pdf format (5 pages incuding references and excluding Tables and Figures) must be sent to jezek@unipv.it at the latest 7 days before the exam. (up to 10 point)
Presentation during the seminars. (up to 5 points)
Texts
Readings
Textbook for the general section of the course
Jezek, E. (2016) The Lexicon: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Readings for the seminars
Fillmore, C. J. (1982) ''Frame semantics''. In Linguistics in the Morning Calm. Seoul: Hanshin Publishing Co. 111-137.
Fillmore, C. J. & Baker, C. (2015) "A Frames Approach to Semantic Analysis". In Heine B. and Narrog H. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Analysis, 2nd ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 791-816.
Jezek, E. (2018) ''Partecipanti impliciti nella struttura argomentale dei verbi''. In Dallabrida S. e C. Cordin (a cura di) La Grammatica delle Valenze. Firenze: Franco Cesati Editore, pp. 55-71.
Pustejovsky J. (1991) ''The Syntax of Event Structure''. In: Cognition, 41(1), pp. 47-81.
Pustejovsky J. and Jezek E. (2012) ''Introducing Qualia Structure'', ms., Brandeis University and University of Pavia (disponibile al sito http://gl-tutorials.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/12/GL-QualiaStructure.pdf).
Vendler, Z. (1967) ''Verbs and times, in Linguistics'' in Philosophy, Ithaca (NY): Cornell University Press, pp. 97-121.
Wilson D. and Carston R. (2007) ''A unitary approach to lexical pragmatics: Relevance, inference and ad hoc
concepts''. In: Burton-Roberts N (ed) Pragmatics. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 230-259.
Textbook for the general section of the course
Jezek, E. (2016) The Lexicon: An Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Readings for the seminars
Fillmore, C. J. (1982) ''Frame semantics''. In Linguistics in the Morning Calm. Seoul: Hanshin Publishing Co. 111-137.
Fillmore, C. J. & Baker, C. (2015) "A Frames Approach to Semantic Analysis". In Heine B. and Narrog H. (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Linguistic Analysis, 2nd ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 791-816.
Jezek, E. (2018) ''Partecipanti impliciti nella struttura argomentale dei verbi''. In Dallabrida S. e C. Cordin (a cura di) La Grammatica delle Valenze. Firenze: Franco Cesati Editore, pp. 55-71.
Pustejovsky J. (1991) ''The Syntax of Event Structure''. In: Cognition, 41(1), pp. 47-81.
Pustejovsky J. and Jezek E. (2012) ''Introducing Qualia Structure'', ms., Brandeis University and University of Pavia (disponibile al sito http://gl-tutorials.org/wpcontent/uploads/2015/12/GL-QualiaStructure.pdf).
Vendler, Z. (1967) ''Verbs and times, in Linguistics'' in Philosophy, Ithaca (NY): Cornell University Press, pp. 97-121.
Wilson D. and Carston R. (2007) ''A unitary approach to lexical pragmatics: Relevance, inference and ad hoc
concepts''. In: Burton-Roberts N (ed) Pragmatics. Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 230-259.
Contents
THEORIES AND MODELS OF NATURAL LANGUAGE SEMANTICS
The course provides an overview of the main theories and models of natural language semantics, and of the principal systems to represent semantic information at the lexical and the compositional level. Theories of formal, cognitive-functional, probabilistic and distributional nature are introduced and discussed through the analysis of specific linguistic phenomena in a cross-linguistic perspective.The course includes lab activities in which students independently perform the analysis of a semantic phenomenon using one of the theories discussed, and empirical evidence (corpora and/or introspective data and their human judgements and/or data from linguistic resources) to support/verify their claims.
1. Introduction.
2. Referential theories.
3. Mentalist and cognitive theories.
4. Structuralist theories.
5. Prototypes and categories.
6. Distributional semantics.
7. Probabilistic approaches.
8. Systems of meaning representation.
The course provides an overview of the main theories and models of natural language semantics, and of the principal systems to represent semantic information at the lexical and the compositional level. Theories of formal, cognitive-functional, probabilistic and distributional nature are introduced and discussed through the analysis of specific linguistic phenomena in a cross-linguistic perspective.The course includes lab activities in which students independently perform the analysis of a semantic phenomenon using one of the theories discussed, and empirical evidence (corpora and/or introspective data and their human judgements and/or data from linguistic resources) to support/verify their claims.
1. Introduction.
2. Referential theories.
3. Mentalist and cognitive theories.
4. Structuralist theories.
5. Prototypes and categories.
6. Distributional semantics.
7. Probabilistic approaches.
8. Systems of meaning representation.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Material for the course - including the updated list of readings, the slides of the lectures, the instructions for the final assignment - are available on the KIRO platform (access with personal username and password) at the course DATI EMPIRICI E TEORIE LINGUISTICHE 2025-2026.
Degrees
Degrees
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS; LINGUISTICS AND MODERN LANGUAGES
Master’s Degree
2 years
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