This course aims at familiarizing the participants with important aspects of a theory of meaning for natural language, including the analysis of compositional meaning and of meaning in context. Some of the insights and results provided by different domains of research (formal semantics, experimental pragmatics, language impairment) will be evaluated and compared with each other, with the goal of enhancing the critical skills and the methodological awareness of the participants
The topics addressed will be the following:
1. Lexical meaning and compositional meaning;
2. Grammar and logic as foundations for a theory of meaning;
3. Reference and quantification in natural language;
4. Meaning in context (models of analysis in formal semantics and in experimental pragmatics) ;
5. Systems of interpretation and cognitive/linguistic impairment
Method: Lecture-based learning and seminar activities
Compulsory reading:
Denis Delfitto & Roberto Zamparelli, “Le strutture del significato”. Il mulino, Bologna
Detailed instructions about (further) study materials will be provided during the course
Oral exam based on the content of the course, including seminar activities
