Lexical Semantics

Code:

CL021

Acronym:

SEMLEX

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Linguistics

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Portuguese and Romance Studies
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Language Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
CL	22	study plan	2	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1. Understand the principles of Lexical Semantics. 2. Understand the different dimensions of the meaning of lexical structures and the mechanisms of their organisation. 3. Describe the structure of lexical units. 4. Determine the main relationships of the meaning of lexical structures. 5. Understand the change and variation processes of the lexical meaning. 6. Apply the theoretical principles analysis of linguistic material, through the use of accurate analysis instruments.

Learning outcomes and competences

Skills and competencies to be developed by the students: 1. produce a linguistic reflection based on theories; 2. describe the principles of Lexical Semantics; 3. establish relations between Lexical Semantics and other areas of linguistics; 4. classify different types of lexical units; 5. analyze different dimensions of meaning; 6. determine the main relationships of meaning of lexical structures; 7. describe the principles and types of lexical variation; 8. describe the processes of lexical meaning change; 9. using rigorous analytical tools for performing exercises; 10. apply theoretical concepts to specific linguistic material in different contexts; 11. use appropriate research tools; 12. present, orally and in writing, a topic of the syllabus.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Lexical semantics
1.1. Object
1.2. Analysis units
1.3. Relationship betwee lexical semantics and other areas of linguistics 
2. Analysis of lexical structures
2.1. Types of lexical units
2.2. Word, lexeme, word form
2.3. Lexical units higher than the word
3. Types and dimensions of meaning
3.1. Types of meaning

Mandatory literature

Aitchinson, Jean; Words in the mind: An introduction to mental lexicon, Blackwell, 2003. ISBN: 978-0631232438
Ataola Olano, C. ; Lexicología y Semántica Léxica, Ediciones Académicas, 2004
Cruse, Alan D; Meaning in Language. An Introduction to Semantics and Pragmatics, Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN: 978-0199263066
Escandell Vidal, M.V. ; Apuntes de semántica léxica, UNED, 2007
Geeraerts, D. ; Theories of Lexical Semantics, Oxford University Press, 2010
Iriarte Sanromán, A. ; A Unidade Lexicográfica. Palavras, Colocações, Frasemas, Pragmatemas, Centro de Estudos Humanísticos:Universidade do Minho, 2001
Keith, Alan; Natural Language Semantics, Blackwell, 2001. ISBN: 978-0631192978
Lakoff, George; Women, Fire, and Dangerous Things: What Categories Reveal about the Mind, 978-0226468037 , 1987. ISBN: University of Chicago Press
Lopes, Ana Cristina Macário; Rio-Torto, Graça; Semântica, Caminho, 2007. ISBN: 978-972-21-1878-1
Miguel, E. ; Panorama de la Lexicología, Ariel, 2009
Murphy, M.L. ; Lexical Meaning, Cambridge University Press, 2010
Pustejovsky, J. ; The Generative Lexicon, MIT Press, 1995
Vilela, Mário; Estudos de Lexicologia do Português, Almedina, 1994. ISBN: 972-40-0767-7
Pustejovsky, James; Batiukova, Olga; The Lexicon, Cambridge University Press, 2019. ISBN: 978-0-521-54795-6
Paiva Raposo et al.; Gramática do Português, FCG, 2020. ISBN: 978-972-31-1628-1
Éva Kardos; Lexical Semantics, Blackwell, 2021 (in The Handbook of English Linguistics, 2nd edition)

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theory classes, theory-practical classes and tutorials.

keywords

Humanities > language sciences > Linguistics > Semantics

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	80,00
Trabalho escrito	20,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	101,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho de investigação	20,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attending 75% of classes, unless established otherwise by law.

Calculation formula of final grade

Weighted average of the assessment items as described above:
- Test: 80% (test 1= 40% + test 2=40%)
- Written or oral assignement: 20%

In special cases the students only do final exam: 100%

Examinations or Special Assignments

In accordance with course regulations and other applicable rules.

Internship work/project

In accordance with the course regulations and other applicable rules.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with course regulations and other applicable rules.

Classification improvement

The components that can be made-up or improved are the tests or exam.

Observations

In accordance with the Assessment Regulations in force. Students with special status (Article 14) will have access to the supplementary periods provided for by law. Besides this possibility, there are no alternative assessment models to those in force for other students.