King Saud University
Riyadh Teachers' College
English Department
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Title: Semantics
Course Code: Eng. 358
Number of credit hours: 2
Instructor: Ahmed Abdel-Shafy
E-mail: aabdallah@ksu.edu.sa
Website: faculty.ksu.edu.sa/75189
I- Course Description:
The course, Semantics Eng. 358 introduces the study of Semantics at the under-graduate level, being a
part of teacher education program. The course aims at the basic study of Linguistic Semantics, the
other Semantics – Philosophic Semantics and Literary Semantics come as a passing reference. The
Semantic components of language, the different forms of meaning and the lexical Semantics will be
studied in details so as to make students understand why the surrounding words sometimes force a
reader to choose one interpretation rather than another. In addition, the course intends to take into
account the philosophical and interpersonal approaches to the study of meaning in a given context.
II- Rationale:
English language teaching brings in its train a lot of constrains in understanding and communicating
the linguistic meaning and the intended meaning of the user of the language. The course aims at the
study of meaning in language. The course tries to teach that level of linguistic analysis where
meaning is analyzed. And, meaning is related very closely to the human capacity to think logically
and understand. So, when meaning is analyzed, the learner is trying to analyze his own capacity to
think and understand, and explores his own capacity to create meaning. The study of Semantics,
therefore, has justification for its inclusion in the study of English in the teacher education program.
III- Course Objectives:
At the end of the course, English majors are expected to:
(1) Identify the concept of Semantics.
(2) Recognize the historical background of Semantic Study.
(3) Identify the relationships between Semantics and Pragmatics.
(4) Distinguish literal and non-literal use of language.
(5) Identify denotational and connotational difference in meaning.
(6) Recognize how language operates at different levels of meaning.
(7) Submit a comprehensive study of how meaning is structured, expressed in the use of a
language.
(8) Recognize varieties of meaning expressed and understood in the use of language in social
interaction.
-2IV- Calendar, Course contents and Assignment Specifications:
Time
Topic
First week
Introduction to Semantics.
Assignments
The assigned chapters (to be
announced) and articles to be
read.
Practical Exercises to be done.
Second week
Lexical Semantics (1):
Synonyms: Pattern of Synonymy.
Third week
Lexical Semantics (2):
Polysemy. Differences.
Fourth week
Lexical Semantics (3):
Hyponyms, Collocation, Componential analysis
Practical Exercises
Fifth week
Lexical Semantics (4):
Antonymy, Complementarity
Converseness sets
Practical Exercises
Sixth week
Sentences, Utterances, Prepositions
Practical Exercises
Seventh week
Reference and Sense.
Practical Exercises
Eighth week
Referring Expressions, Opaque Context,
Equative sentences.
Practical Exercises
Ninth week
Predicates, Predicator, Degree of predicate
Practical Exercises
Tenth week
Generic Sentence, Universe of Discourse
Practical Exercises
Eleventh week
Deixis and Definiteness, context.
Practical Exercises
Twelfth week
Semantics of Sentence Elements (1):
Agent, Experienceer, External Causer, Positioner.
Selected readings suggested
Thirteenth week
Attribute,
Affected,
Resultant,
Eventive, Practical Exercises
Recipient, Beneficiary, Instrument, Locative,
Goal, Source, Temporal.
Fourteenth week
Changes in the meaning of words:
Practical Exercises
Extension,
Narrowing,
Amelioration,
Degeneration,
Intensification
Weakening
Synecdoche Metaphorical Extension.
Fifteenth week
Theories of Meaning:
The Referential Theory of Meaning
The Non-referential Approach to Meaning
The Generative Grammarians' Approach
-3-
Homonyms
and Practical Exercises
Practical Exercises
V- Evaluation:
Effective attendance, research & in-class activities
Mid-term written exam (two sessions).
Final Written Exam
Total
10 marks
30 marks
60 marks
100 marks
VI- Instructional Procedures:
1. The course will involve effective interaction among the students and the teacher.
2. Lectures will be conducted using the prescribed book.
3. Students participation will take the forms of:
a. Independent reading and writing.
b. Internet search.
c. Classroom discussion.
d. Practical exercises.
e. Written assignments.
f. Setting for quizzes, mid-term and final exams.
VII- General Course Requirements:
1. Each student is expected to attend his class-lectures regularly and punctually.
2. He must be a positive participant in discussions, presentations, and hands-on projects in time.
3. Assignment should be done with care and attention, and must not be turned in late.
4. All written assignments and reports should be word processed, double spaced, named and
dated.
5. There would be no make-ups for mid-term and final exam which will be held on notified date.
VIII- Required texts:
1. Hurford, James R. & Heasley, Brendan (1983) Semantics: A Course Book, Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
IX- References:
1. Austin, J.L. (1961), How to Do Things with Words, Oxford: Oxford University Press
(O.U.P.)
2. Austin, J.L. (1971), "Performative-Constative" in J.R. Searle (ed) The Philosophy of
Language, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
3. Bloomfield, L. (1932), Language, New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
4. Bradley, H. (1904), The Making of English, London: Macmillan.
5. Chomsky, N. (1957) Syntactic Structures, The Hague: Mouton.
6. Chomsky, N. (1965) Aspects of the Theory of Syntax, Cambridge, Massachus etts: MIT
Press.
7. Crystal, D. (1985), A Dictionary of Linguistics and Phonetics, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
8. Crystal, D. (1987), A Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language, Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
9. Fodor, J.D. (1982), Semantics: Theories of Meaning in Generative Grammar, Brighton:
The Harvester Press.
10. Jackendoff, R. (1972), Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar, Cambridge,
Massachusetts: MIT Press.
11. Katz, J. (1972), Semantic Theory, New York: Harper & Row.
12. Leech, G. (1981), Semantics, Harmondsworth: Penguin.
13. Lyons, J. (1963), Structural Semantics, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
14. Lyons, J. (1968), Introduction to Theoretical Linguistics, Cambridge: C.U.P.
15. Lyons, J. (1981), Language, Meaning and Context, Chaucer Press, Britain.
16. Lyons, J. (1995), Linguistic Semantics: An Introduction, Cambridge: C.U.P.
17. Ogden, C.K. and Richards, I.A. (1923), The Meaning of Meaning, London: Kegan Paul,
(Tenth edition 1949).
18. Palmer FR, (1976), Semantics: A New Outline, Cambridge: C.U.P.
19. Palmer FR (1981), Semantics, Cambridge: C.U.P.
20. Ullman, S. (1962), Semantics: An Introduction to the study of meaning, Oxford: Basil
Blackwell.
21. Waldron, RA (1967), Sense and Sense Development, London.