This course builds on the foundational course in Semantics of English, and introduces more advanced issues in Semantics. It covers a range of topics within Cognitive and Applied Semantics, such as Colour Semantics, Forensic Semantics, Lexicography and Metaphor.

1x1hr lecture; 1x1hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Language & Linguistics and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

None 

None

Examination (90 minutes) - 50%

Coursework essay (2000 words) - 40%

Set exercise - 10%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ examine in detail major issues of semantics within modern linguistics;

■ further develop skills in the linguistic analysis of meaning from a theoretical perspective;

■ allow students the opportunity to carry out an in-depth analysis of selected areas of meaning, such as colour semantics, forensic semantics, dictionaries, or metaphor.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ discuss meaning critically in a range of research-led contexts, drawing on different theoretical and applied approaches;

■ evaluate a range of advanced theoretical perspectives on issues in contemporary semantics;

■ argue for the importance of semantics in codifying our world and describing our interaction with it.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.