Semantics 2024

Course description

Natural languages are sophisticated tools which enable us to express and understand an unbounded range of  thoughts by assembling sentences that we have never before used or heard. Formal semantics uses tools from logic to study how this impressive result is achieved, that is, how the meaning of an expression is assembled from the meanings of its parts.

This course introduces the key logical tools of formal semantics and covers some central topics in semantics, like predication, quantification, definites, plurals, indexicals, modals, conditionals, questions, and presuppositions.


Textbook
Invitation to Formal Semantics
By Elizabeth Coppock and Lucas Champollion


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of predicate logic. Students wishing to refresh the relevant notions may study Chapters 3 and 4 of the textbook.


Program, material, and assignments
(will be updated as the course proceeds)


27 Feb. Introduction. What is formal semantics?
Material: Handout. Chapters 1 and 2 of the textbook.
If you lack prior knowledge of predicate logic, please read also Ch. 3 and 4.


Access to Moodle

If Moodle asks you for an enrolment key, it is: SUP9085903N02023

Semantics 2024

Course description

Natural languages are sophisticated tools which enable us to express and understand an unbounded range of  thoughts by assembling sentences that we have never before used or heard. Formal semantics uses tools from logic to study how this impressive result is achieved, that is, how the meaning of an expression is assembled from the meanings of its parts.

This course introduces the key logical tools of formal semantics and covers some central topics in semantics, like predication, quantification, definites, plurals, indexicals, modals, conditionals, questions, and presuppositions.


Textbook
Invitation to Formal Semantics
By Elizabeth Coppock and Lucas Champollion


Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of predicate logic. Students wishing to refresh the relevant notions may study Chapters 3 and 4 of the textbook.


Program, material, and assignments
(will be updated as the course proceeds)


27 Feb. Introduction. What is formal semantics?


Access to Moodle

To make sure you get access to all the course material, please register via Moodle.
The enrolment key is: SUP9085903N02023

Logic 2022

Time and location

Class: Thursdays and Fridays 10:30-12:30.
Sala Stefanini, Palazzo del Capitanio


Textbook

Peter Smith, An introduction to formal logic (pdf)


Program, exercises, and additional material
(will be updated as the course proceeds)


20.10. Course introduction. Deductive validity, forms of inference, proofs.
Material: Chapters 1-4 of the book.