LING 3037 - Semantics: The Study of Meaning
North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2025
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General Course Information
Course Details
Course Code LING 3037 Course Semantics: The Study of Meaning Coordinating Unit European Languages, and Linguistics Term Semester 2 Level Undergraduate Location/s North Terrace Campus Units 3 Contact Up to 3 hours per week Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y Prerequisites At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study Incompatible LING 2052 Assumed Knowledge LING 1101 Assessment Practical 1 - 10%, Practical 2 - 10%, Tutorial Presentation 20%, 1500 word essay 30%, Exam 1.5 hours 30% Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Ian Green
Course Coordinator (2021): Dr Ian Green | ian.green@adelaide.edu.au. | 0438 756 936
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Guest Lecturer: Professor Ghil'ad ZuckermannCourse Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .
Lectures: livestreamed Monday 9-11am, recordings available shortly after the lecture
Tutorials: face-to-face Tuesday 11am-12pm Lower Napier LG28 | online Wednesday 2-3pm -
Learning Outcomes
Course Learning Outcomes
1 Demonstrate a knowledge of a range of approaches to analysing lexical semantics. 2 Demonstrate an understanding of sense relations between words. 3 Perform a componential analysis. 4 Explain the relationships between semantics and grammar 5 Demonstrate an understanding of sentence semantics. 6 Explain the principles of semantic change. 7 Write a coherent and logically argued essay in response to a question posed drawing on a range of perspectives and source material University Graduate Attributes
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:
University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s) Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.
1.2.3.4.5.6 Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.
1,2,3,4,5,6 Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills
Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.
7 Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness
Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.
7 Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency
Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.
2,4,6 Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.
. Attribute 7: Digital capabilities
Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.
. Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.
2,4,7 -
Learning Resources
Required Resources
Textbook: Saeed, John I. (2016). Semantics (4th ed.) Chichester, England: Wiley Blackwell -
Learning & Teaching Activities
Learning & Teaching Modes
Lectures and analytical/problem-solving tutorials drawing on, and extending, material covered in lectures and/or in the course text-book or in other material referenced in the course.Workload
The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
2 X 1-hour lectures per week 24 hrs per semester
1 X 1-hour tutorial per week X10 weeks. 10 hours per semester
4 hours reading per week 48 hours per semester
3 hours semantics analysis/problem solving per week 36 hours per semester
3 hours assignment preparation per week 36 hours per semester
2 hours revision 2 hours per semester
TOTAL 156 hours per semesterLearning Activities Summary
Week 1
Language, concepts, meaning: is there a dictionary in your head?
Week 2
Word meaning
Week 3
Sense vs Reference; Semantics vs Pragmatics (Professor Ghil‘ad Zuckermann)
Week 4
Phono-Semantic Matching(Professor Ghil‘ad Zuckermann)
Week 5
Logic & Truth
Week 6
Types of Situations
Week 7
Types of Participants
Week 8
Pragmatics
Week 9
Speech Acts
Week 10
Meaning Components
Week 11
Cognitive Semantics
Week 12
Semantic variation and change -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Task Type Due Weighting Learning Outcome Practical exercise in semantic analysis #1 due end of Week 3 10% Practical exercise in semantic analysis #2 due end of Week 6 10% Tutorial Presentation due as negotiated sometime in Weeks 7-10 20% 1500–2000 word essay due end of week 9 30% End of semester exam due beginning of week 14 30% Assessment Detail
Practicals:
Students undertake a short semantic analysis of sets of language data -10% weighting per practical.
1000 word (or equivalent) tutorial presentation:
Students give an in-tutorial live or prerecorded presentation on a negotiated topic in semantic theory and analysis -20% weighting.
1500 word essay:
Students will be required to write a 1500 word research essay on a semantics topic, drawing on library research as well as on semantic analysis of their own data -30% weighting.
Exam:
An online exam to be undertaken at the end of semester -30% weighting.
Assessment for Semantics at Level III will involve problems of a higher level of difficulty thanproblems set for Semantics at Level II. At Level III a greater level of abstraction will be required. Separate exam papers will be set differing in the level of conceptual difficulty.
Tutorial topics need to relate to the topic covered that week. Specific topics need to be negotiated with the Course Coordinator with an abstract submitted prior to presentationSubmission
All assignments are to be submitted online via MyUni.Course Grading
Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:
M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme) Grade Mark Description FNS Fail No Submission F 1-49 Fail P 50-64 Pass C 65-74 Credit D 75-84 Distinction HD 85-100 High Distinction CN Continuing NFE No Formal Examination RP Result Pending Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.
Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.
Final results for this course will be made available through .
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Student Feedback
The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.
SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
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- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
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- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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