VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY – HCMC

UNIVERSITY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES

FACULTY OF ENGLISH LINGUISTICS AND LITERATURE

COURSE SYLLABUS

I. Course Name: ENGLISH SEMANTICS

II. Course code: NVA061
III. Course Credits: 4
IV. Course Prerequisites: Students have completed fundamental subjects and Introduction to
English Linguistics.
V. Course overview: The focus of the course is on the understanding of the terms and concepts in
the field of English Semantics. Classroom activities range from conveying theory to practice. They
are designed to provide students with opportunities to understand the basic terms, expressions and
concepts in the field.
VI. Course Content:
Part I: Semantic meaning
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Semantic properties
1.3 Denotation and connotation
1.4 Predicates
1.5 Reference and Sense
1.6 Non-literal meaning
1.7 Sense relations
1.8 Lexical ambiguity
1.9 Anomaly
Part II: Pragmatic meaning
2.1 Propositions – Sentences – Utterances
2.2 Sentence types: analytic, contradictory, synthetic
2.3 Paraphrase
2.4 Entailment
2.5 Introduction to Speech Acts
2.6 Performatives versus Constatives
2.7 Locution – Illocution – Perlocution
2.8 Felicity conditions
2.9 Classification of Speech Acts
2.10 Cooperative Principle
2.11 Politeness Principle
2.12 Deixis
2.13 Presupposition
2.14 Implicature
VII. Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course students will be able to:
(1) Categorize specialized knowledge of English semantics and compare them with those of
Vietnamese (PLO11, PLO23, PLO33);
(2) Distinguish different kinds of meaning and sense relations (PLO11);
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 (3) Differentiate propositions, sentences and utterances (PLO11);
(4) Categorize speech acts and related issues such as presupposition and implicature and
apply them in language usage (PLO11);
(5) Use language flexibly and effectively for academic, and professional purposes (PLO14,
PLO24, PLO34);
(6) Search and synthesize information (using libraries, Internet, etc.) (PLO15, PLO25,
PLO35);
(7) Work individually and in groups (PLO17, PLO27, PLO37);
(8) Be dynamic, accurate and patient in learning, doing research and working (PLO110,
PLO210, PLO310);
(9) Show inquisitiveness and sense of initiative to adapt to the new trends and
techniques in English language teaching (PLO111).

Linking between course learning outcomes, teaching & learning strategies, course assessment
and program learning outcomes

No. Course learning Teaching & Course Program Learning Outcomes

outcomes learning activities Assessment
Knowledge Skills Attitudes

(1) Categorize Lecturing Written x

specialized Oral presentation midterm exam
knowledge of (groupwork) on theories
English semantics Question &
and compare them answer
with those of
Vietnamese.
(PLO11, PLO23,
PLO33)
(2) Distinguish Lecturing Written x
different kinds of Group oral midterm exam
meaning and sense presentation on theories
relations. (PLO11) Group discussion Written final
Question & exam
answer
(3) Differentiate Lecturing Written x
propositions, Group oral midterm exam
sentences and presentation
utterances. Group discussion Written final
(PLO11) Question & exam
answer
(4) Categorize speech Lecturing Application x
acts and related Group oral questions in
issues such as presentation written final
presupposition and Group discussion exam
implicature and Question &
apply them in answer
language usage. Written Group
(PLO11) project

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(5) Use language Oral presentation The way x
flexibly and (groupwork) questions are
effectively for Group discussion raised and
academic, and Written Group shared in class
professional project
purposes. (PLO14,
PLO24, PLO34)
(6) Search and Group work The way x
synthesize Written project information is
information (using searched and
libraries, Internet, quoted in
etc.) (PLO15, written project
PLO25, PLO35)
(7) Work individually Oral presentation The result of x
and in groups. (groupwork) group project
(PLO17, PLO27, Group discussion Individual
PLO37) Written Group presentation
project
(8) Be dynamic, Oral presentation Contributions x
accurate and (groupwork) in class &
patient in learning, Group discussion group
doing research and Written Group discussion
working. project
(PLO110,
PLO210, PLO310)
(9) Show Oral presentation Contributions x
inquisitiveness and (groupwork) in class (new
sense of initiative Group discussion ideas, updated
to adapt to the new Written Group information,
trends and project the usage of
techniques in new
English language technology
teaching. etc.)
(PLO111)

VIII. Texts and Materials:

a/ Required:
1) Fromkin, V. et al. An Introduction to Language (pp. 166-171). (Australian edition).
Singapore: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Group Pty Limited, 1984.
2) Hurford, J.R., Heasley, B. and Smith, M. B. Semantics – A Course Book. Cambridge: CUP,
2007.
3) Yule, G. Pragmatics. Oxford: OUP, 1996.
b/ Supplementary:
1) Palmer, F. R. Semantics. (Second edition). Cambridge: CUP, 1981.
2) Saeed, J. Semantics. Oxford: Blackwell, 2009.

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IX. Basis for Final Grade:
Assessment Percent Score Percent Note
Criteria of final grade
Midterm exam 80% Midterm score 30% To be computed by the
Class activities 20% University Admission Office
____
100%
Final exam 100% Final score 70% To be computed by the
____ University Admission Office
100%
100%
Passing grade: 5/10
Guidelines for mid term and final tests
Duration: 60 minutes (no materials or dictionary allowed)
The mid-term test (for reference)
* Theory: (20%) Gap filling or T/F (10 questions)
* Exercises (80%)
- Denotation and Connotation
- Reference and Sense
- Non-literal meaning
- Sense relations
- Anomaly
- Lexical ambiguity
The final exam
 Theory: (20%) Gap filling or T/F (10 questions)
 Exercises (80%)
- Sense relations (4 pairs)
- Performative – constative
- Entailment
- Types of sentences
- Presupposition (4 questions)
- Speech acts (1 utterance – 2 situations)
- Conversational maxims – Implicature (4 questions)
X. Course Policies:
A. Grades
Late Work Policy: There are no make-ups for in-class writing, quizzes, the midterm, or the final
exam.

B. Technology and Media

Email: students are encouraged to contact with the instructor via email beside class hours. Email
address will be provided at the beginning of the course.

C. Student Expectations
Attendance Policy: Attendance will be taken at the beginning of every class. If you are more than
fifteen minutes late, you will be marked with an absence. You should be in each and every class,
though I understand that things sometimes come up. I would appreciate some advanced notice if you
know you will be absent, and I expect you to exchange your contact information with a few other
classmates so that if you are out, you can contact them for information on what you missed in class.
You are responsible for getting the information you missed. Please keep in mind that each time you

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are absent, you miss a lot of in-class discussion that may affect your overall understanding of the
topics being covered and inevitably your performance.

Professionalism Policy: Attendance is required – both physically and mentally. You are expected to
take an active role in class discussions. Also, please make sure your phone is off or on buzz (and
buried deep inside your backpack), so it’s not heard while in class. Save your text messaging for
after class or at break. I do not want to see anyone text messaging during class.

Academic Integrity: Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated

XI. Schedule:
* Note: The Schedule is subject to revision

Session Topic Reading Notes

1 Introduction Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 1
Semantic properties Fromkin et al. (pp. 166-170)
Predicates Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 5
2 Denotation and connotation Fromkin et al. (pp. 170-171)
3 Reference and Sense Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 3
4 Non-literal Meaning Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 27
5 Sense relations Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 10 &
Synonymy 11
Hyponymy
Antonymy (Binary, Gradable and
Relational)
Multiple Incompatibility
6 Sense Relations (cont.) Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit Unit
Homonymy (homonyms, 11
homophones and homographs)
Polysemy
7 Lexical Ambiguity Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 11
Anomaly Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 17
(pp. 209-211)
Mid-term test
8 Propositions – Sentences – Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit Unit 2
Utterances Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 9 (pp.
Sentence types: analytic, 95-98)
contradictory, synthetic Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 10
Paraphrase (pp. 108-116)
Entailment
9 Introduction to Speech Acts Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit Unit
Performatives versus constatives 21
10 Locution, Illocution, Perlocution Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit 22
11 Classification of Speech Acts Yule, Chapter 6 (pp. 53-54)
12 Felicity conditions Hurford, Heasley and Smith, Unit Unit
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Cooperative Principle Yule, Chapter 5 (pp. 36-37)
13 Politeness Principle Yule, Chapter 7 (pp. 59-61) Yule,
Deixis Chapter 2
14 Presupposition Yule, Chapter 4
Implicature Yule, Chapter 5 (pp. 40-46)
15 Review

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 XII. References
This course syllabus is designed using as reference the
- Syllabus: Introduction to semantics (Eng 362) of the State University of New York
website link www.acsu.buffalo.edu/~jb77/LIN438_538
- Syllabus: Linguistics 437: Semantics and Pragmatics of Michigan State University
website link https://www.msu.edu/~morzycki/teaching/437/syllabus.
- Syllabus: Semantics II of the University of Texas
website link www.utexas.edu/cola/files/385137