Dates: 08/18/2025 - 12/06/2025
Location:
Adlai E. Stevenson Hall 410 (STV 410)
Instructor: Jesus Olguin
Class Notes: Studies In English Linguistics
In this course, special attention will be paid to one domain of English Linguistics: Semantics. While semantics is usually associated with the study of meaning of single/isolated words, we will learn that there may be more to the story. What is the relationship between grammar and semantics? This is one of the most fundamental questions to understanding what it means to be human. Whereas it has intrigued philosophers for centuries, the last few decades have allowed us to finally collect empirical data and get some scientific answers. In this course, we will take a deep dive into some of the most fascinating questions in semantics: Does the language you speak shape the way you think? Are there any cognitive universals of semantics? The course will show that semantic analyses have a lot of real-life applications, e.g., improving methodologies for second language teaching, improving methods for computational linguistics (e.g., speech correction), and improving methods for dealing with speech and language difficulties. Be prepared to challenge long-held views from traditional linguistics and rethink what you know about language!
Textbooks have not been finalized for section.
