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Course profile

Semantics (LING2000)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Languages & Cultures School

This course introduces students to linguistic semantics which deals with how meaning is encoded in language and how it can be analysed and represented.
NOTE: Course offering may be cancelled unless a minimum of 20 students enrol.

This course explores how meaning is encoded in language and how the relationship between linguistic forms, meaning and thought can be analysed and represented.

[subject to staffing requirements, this course is normally run in Semester Two each year.ᅠ However, adjustments may be made to the lecture program or reading list from one offering to the next.]

Course requirements

Assumed background

This course assumes a basic knowledge of syntax (sentence structure), semantics and pragmatics as presented in the Introductory Linguistics course LING1000 or equivalent course.

Prerequisites

You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:

LING1000

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

LING7100

Course staff

Course coordinator

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Additional timetable information

Public holidays:

Alternative arrangements for affected students will be announced through the Blackboard site.

Class allocation:

In order to optimise the student experience, it may be necessary to reallocate students to a different class from their first choice. Before this happens, every effort will be made to enable students to voluntarily change into an alternative class that is suitable.

Please note: Teaching staff do not have access to the timetabling system to help with class allocation. Therefore, should you need help with your timetable and/or allocation of classes, please ensure you email hass.mytimetable@uq.edu.au from your UQ student email account with the following details:

  • Full name,
  • Student ID, and
  • the Course Code

Additional information and support can be found here

Aims and outcomes

This course has the following aims:

i. To provide an introduction to the study of meaning in language;

ii. To compare various approaches to the study of linguistic meaning;

iii. To learn to distinguish different types of meaning encoded in and expressed by language;

iv. To compare the relationship between form, meaning and thought in different languages and to test the cross-linguistic validity of some claims about the relationship between form, meaning and thought in human languages;

v. To learn to analyse a range of linguistic examples by doing regular practical exercises involving a wide range of data.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Recognise and classify types of meaning in language

LO2.

Appreciate how different languages might encode meaning

LO3.

Examine meaning relative to spatial, temporal and interpersonal contexts

LO4.

Explore the connection between meaning and thought

LO5.

Apply semantic analyses to real-world examples of language use

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Tutorial/ Problem Set Assessment 1: Things
  • Online
30%

16/08/2024 4:45 pm

The online assessment will be made available from 1pm Thursday until 4.45pm Friday. Students will have an hour (60 minutes) to complete the assessment once they have started.

Tutorial/ Problem Set Assessment 2: Events
  • Online
35%

13/09/2024 4:45 pm

The online assessment will be made available from 1pm Thursday until 4.45pm Friday. Students will have an hour (60 minutes) to complete the assessment once they have started.

Tutorial/ Problem Set Assessment 3: Embodiment
  • Online
35%

18/10/2024 4:45 pm

The online assessment will be made available from 1pm Thursday until 4.45pm Friday. Students will have an hour (60 minutes) to complete the assessment once they have started.

Assessment details

Assessment 1: Things

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Tutorial/ Problem Set
Weight
30%
Due date

16/08/2024 4:45 pm

The online assessment will be made available from 1pm Thursday until 4.45pm Friday. Students will have an hour (60 minutes) to complete the assessment once they have started.

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This problem set will cover the material in Unit 1: Things, presented during Weeks 1-4. It will consist of multiple choice, multiple answer, matching, short answer, and/or other formats not requiring lengthy written answers. The problem set will be delivered using Inspera Assessment, which provides additional functionality to complement the existing suite of digital learning tools at UQ with a greater range of question types, accessibility provisions, and non-English languages. 


This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submitted through Inspera. For further details, including an introduction to Inspera functionality, practice opportunities, and where to go for support, please see: https://web.library.uq.edu.au/library-services/it/assessments-inspera.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Maximum extension length allows assessors to give timely feedback before subsequent tasks are due.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment 2: Events

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Tutorial/ Problem Set
Weight
35%
Due date

13/09/2024 4:45 pm

The online assessment will be made available from 1pm Thursday until 4.45pm Friday. Students will have an hour (60 minutes) to complete the assessment once they have started.

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This problem set will cover the material in Unit 2: Events, presented during Weeks 5--8. It will consist of multiple choice, multiple answer, matching, short answer, and/or other formats not requiring lengthy written answers. The problem set will be delivered using a new assessment tool currently being rolled out at UQ, Inspera Assessment. Inspera Assessment provides additional functionality to complement the existing suite of digital learning tools at UQ with a greater range of question types, accessibility provisions, and non-English languages. 


This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submit through Inspera

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Maximum extension length allows assessors to give timely feedback before subsequent tasks are due.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessment 3: Embodiment

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Tutorial/ Problem Set
Weight
35%
Due date

18/10/2024 4:45 pm

The online assessment will be made available from 1pm Thursday until 4.45pm Friday. Students will have an hour (60 minutes) to complete the assessment once they have started.

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

This problem set will cover the material in Unit 3:Embodiment, presented during Weeks 9-12. It will consist of multiple choice, multiple answer, matching, short answer, and/or other formats not requiring lengthy written answers. The problem set will be delivered using a new assessment tool currently being rolled out at UQ, Inspera Assessment. Inspera Assessment provides additional functionality to complement the existing suite of digital learning tools at UQ with a greater range of question types, accessibility provisions, and non-English languages. 


This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Submit through Inspera

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 24

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 25 - 44

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

Marking criteria and/or marking rubrics are available in the ‘Assessment’ folder in Blackboard for this course. 

UQ is working to achieve greater equity in grading practices across the whole university. Until now, it has been easier to get high grades in some areas of study than in others. Assessment criteria and standards are therefore being modified to ensure they correspond to the grade descriptors above.

In this course, the difficulty of passing the course has not changed, however the requirements to achieve a 6 or a 7 have been tightened, so that only outstanding achievement is rewarded by high grades.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

More detailed information about assessment in this course will be posted on the course Blackboard Site.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

There is a Blackboard Site for this course on which lecture notes, weekly worksheets and other essential learning information will be posted regularly. Go to http://www.elearning.uq.edu.au/

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 12
(22 Jul - 20 Oct)

Lecture

Lecture

Week 1: Units of Meaning

Week 2: Signs

Week 3: Deixis

Week 4: Semantic Features

Week 5: Time

Week 6: Verbs and Participants

Week 7: Propositional Logic

Week 8: Predicate Logic

Week 9: Primary and Complex Metaphor

Week 10: Semantic Typology

Week 11: Thinking for Speaking

Week 12: Gesture

THERE IS NO CLASS IN WEEK 13

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Multiple weeks

From Week 2 To Week 12
(29 Jul - 20 Oct)

Tutorial

Tutorials

Tutorials will cover the same topics as lectures in the same week. There is no tutorial in week 13

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.