Outline

Overview

Semantics deals with the meaning of words, phrases, sentences and texts, and the relations between those meanings. Our goal is to explore the diversity of ways in which meaning can be expressed linguistically in different languages, as well as of what constitutes evidence for meaning.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Linguistics
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	12 credit points at 2000 in Linguistics or 18 credit points at 2000 or 3000 level in English or Australian Literature
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Nick Riemer, nick.riemer@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Supervised exam ?	Written exam Written, closed-book examination with questions distributed in advance.	55%	Formal exam period	2.5 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Written Exercise 2 Exercise on logic and theories of categorisation	25%	Week 08 Due date: 09 May 2025 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Written exercise 1 Definition exercise	20%	Week 09 Due date: 04 Apr 2025 at 23:59	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

More specific descriptions will be distributed with each assignment

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Specific descriptions to be distributed with each assignment
Distinction	75 - 84	Specific descriptions to be distributed with each assignment
Credit	65 - 74	Specific descriptions to be distributed with each assignment
Pass	50 - 64	Specific descriptions to be distributed with each assignment
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Opening assumptions I: languages, words, minds	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Opening assumptions II: communication, behaviour, and kinds of meaning	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Definition 1	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Definition I: introductory issues	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Definition 2 - isolating semantic meaning	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Definition II: complex cases; lexical relations and componential analysis	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Definition 3 - more complex cases	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Polysemy and online meaning construal	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Definition 4 - more complex cases continued	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Meaning and logic	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Meaning and logic	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Meaning and categorization: classical categories, prototype categories and exemplars	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Meaning and logic	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Categorization and 'cognitive' approaches to semantics	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Categorization	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 10	The semantics of grammar: tense and aspect	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Semantics of grammar: parts of speech	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Semantic analysis and ethnocentrism	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Semantics of grammar	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Semantic variation and change I	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Semantic variation and change	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	Semantic variation and change II	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Semantic variation and change	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: students are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board which will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
Preparation: students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit with the exception of the textbook can be accessed through the Reading List link on the Canvas site for this unit.

Required textbook: Nick Riemer, Introducing Semantics (Cambridge University Press, 2010)

A course bibliography with additional readings will be posted on the course webpage.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. appreciate the complexity of meaning analysis in natural language and become familiar with some of the variety of options for its analysis
LO2. gain experience in presenting analyses of meaning and in distinguishing ‘sentence meaning’ from 'speaker meaning’
LO3. gain a fuller and more sophisticated understanding of the role that 'meaning' plays in explanations of language structure and use
LO4. understand a number of methodological and theoretical questions about the conduct of empirical enquiry into natural language.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

LNGS3601: Semantics - Meaning, Reference and Mind

Semester 1, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links