NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

AND
NATIONAL TEACHERS’ INSTITUTE

BACHELOR’S DEGREE PROGRAMME

MANUAL

SCHOOL OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDIES

ENG 331: INTRODUCTION TO SEMANTICS

(3 Credit Units)

ENG 341: THE PHONOLOGY OF ENGLISH (3 Credit Units)

(TESSA Integrated Manual)

ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna

P M B 2191
Kaduna
e-mail: ntikad@yahoo.com
URL: www.nti-nigeria.org

In affiliation with

National Open University of Nigeria

Headquarters
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Victoria Island
Lagos
e-mail: centralinfo@noun.edu.ng
URL: www.noun.edu.ng

Published by
National Open University of Nigeria
Printed 2012

ISBN:

Reviewed by:
National Teachers’ Institute Kaduna
2016

All Rights Reserved

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

ENG 331: INTRODUCTION TO SEMANTICS

1st Edition

Course Developer/Writer: Professor Charles Ogbulogo

Covenant University

Course Editor: Professor Sam Onuigbo

University of Nigeria

Programme Leader: Dr. I. Omolara Daniel

NOUN

Course Coordinator: Mr. T. O. Iyere

NOUN

2nd Edition

Course Reviewer/Editor: Professor Gideon S. Omachonu

Nasarawa State University
Keffi

Manual Coordinator: Professor Thomas K. Adeyanju

National Teachers’ Institute
Kaduna

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ENG 331: INTRODUCTION TO SEMANTICS

CONTENTS PAGE

Course Guide - - - - - - - - vi – x

Module 1 Definition and Scope of Semantics - - - 1

Unit 1 Definition and Brief History of Semantics - - 1

Unit 2 The Scope of Semantics - - - - - 6
Unit 3 Approaches to the Study of Semantics - - - 11

Module 2 The Study of Meaning - - - - - 16

Unit 1 The Nature and Types of Meaning - - - - 16

Unit 2 Theories of Meaning - - - - - 23

Module 3 Word and Sentence Meaning - - - - 27

Unit 1 Semantics and the Study of the Word: Sense

Relations - - - - - - - 27
Unit 2 Semantics and the Nature of the Lexicon - - - 32
Unit 3 Aspects of Sentential Meaning - - - - 39
Unit 4 Pragmatics: Conversational Implicative and
Speech Acts Theories - - - - - 45

Module 4 Logic and Fallacies - - - - - 52

Unit 1 Basic Aspects of Linguistics Fallacies - - - 52

Unit 2 Aspects of Material Fallacies Relevant to
Semantics - - - - - - - 57
Unit 3 Elements of Logic in Semantics - - - - 64

Module 5 Semantics and the Practice of Literary

Communication - - - - - - 70

Unit 1 The Application of Semantics to Literary

Communication - - - - - - 70
Unit 2 The Application of Semantics to Everyday
Communication - - - - - - 77
Unit 3 Semantic Problems in Nigerian English - - - 82
Answer to Self – Assessment Exercises - - - - 88

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

ENG 341: THE PHONOLOGY OF ENGLISH

Course Guide - - - - - - - xiii – xxiii

Module 1 English Phonetics and Phonology - - - 91

Unit 1 Phonetics - - - - - - - 91
Unit 2 Phonology - - - - - - - 102

Module 2 English Vowels - - - - - - 109

Unit 1 English Monophthongs I - - - - - 109

Unit 2 English Monophthongs II - - - - - 117
Unit 3 English Diphthongs and Triphthongs - - - 125

Module 3 English Consonants - - - - - 132

Unit 1 The Plosives - - - - - - - 133

Unit 2 The Affricates and Fricatives - - - - 139
Unit 3 The Nasals, Lateral, Continuants - - - - 144

Module 4 English Phonemes and Allophones - - - 149

Unit 1 Phonemic Description by Contrast - - - 149

Unit 2 English Sound Change I - - - - - 160
Unit 3 English Sound Change II - - - - - 166

Module 5 Distinctive Features - - - - - 178

Unit 1 Generative Phonology - - - - - 178

Unit 2 Major Class features/Cavity features - - - 186
Unit 3 Manner of Articulation features - - - - 194
Unit 4 Distinctive features Matrix - - - - - 199

Module 6 English Syllable, Stress and Intonation - - 205

Unit 1 Syllable Structure and Strength - - - - 205

Unit 2 The Phonotactics of English - - - - 212
Unit 3 Stress in English - - - - - - 218
Unit 4 Intonation in English I - - - - - 231
Unit 5 Intonation in English II - - - - - 237

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

COURSE GUIDE

INTRODUCTION

ENG 331 Introduction to English Semantics is a three-credit unit course. It is

presented in five modules with emphasis on the meaning and mechanisms of the
English semantics. We note that communication is impossible without meaning
shared between the speaker/writer and the audience. Apart from dealing on
theoretical perspectives of semantics, we shall explore in some detail the application
of semantics to everyday interactions and literary communication. We shall also
examine the connection between semantics and logic.

COURSE AIM

The aim of this course is to present you with the essentials of English semantics and
complex analysis of issues of communication. The course will also be a logical link
to the contemporary thought on web-based and computer related communication
systems.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Besides the specific objectives of each unit, the general objectives of this course are
presented below. It is expected that at the end of this course, you should be able to:

 trace the development of linguistic semantics

 highlight the scope and concepts of linguistic semantics
 explore the nature and meaning of English semantics
 identify different types of meaning
 explain the different theories of meaning
 highlight the major thrust in the various approaches to the study of semantics
 discuss the sense relations in the study of words
 identify practical manifestations of semantic principles in literary and non-
literary communication
 highlight some semantic problems of Nigerian English.

WORKING THROUGH THIS COURSE

To succeed in this course, you will be expected to study the units thoroughly, refer to
the recommended texts and complete all the assignments. You will also need to
attempt the self-assessment exercises. This course will take about 16 weeks to
complete. You will discover that the units have been presented in simple and logical
forms to enable you benefit maximally from them.

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

COURSE MATERIALS

You have been provided in this course with the following items:

Course Guide
Study Units
Textbooks and References
Assignment File

STUDY UNITS

The units in this course are presented in the following modules.

Module 1 Definition and Scope of Semantics

Unit 1 Definition and Brief History of Semantics

Unit 2 The Scope of Semantics
Unit 3 Approaches to the Study of Semantics

Module 2 The Study of Meaning

Unit 1 The Nature and Types of Meaning

Unit 2 Theories of Meaning

Module 3 Word and Sentence Meaning

Unit 1 Semantics and the Study of the Word: Sense Relations

Unit 2 Semantics and the Nature of the Lexicon
Unit 3 Aspects of Sentential Meaning
Unit 4 Pragmatics: Conversational Implicature and Speech Acts Theories

Module 4 Logic and Fallacies

Unit 1 Basic Aspects of Linguistic Fallacies

Unit 2 Aspects of Material Fallacies Relevant to Semantics
Unit 3 Elements of Logic in Semantics

Module 5 Semantics and the Practice of Literary Communication

Unit 1 The Application of Semantics to Literary Communication

Unit 2 The Application of Semantics to Everyday Communication
Unit 3 Semantic Problems in Nigerian English

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

TEXTBOOKS AND REFERENCES

There is a list of references at the end of every unit. You are encouraged to search for
these sources and consult them for further information. It will also be very profitable
to consult other standard textbooks on each of the topics discussed.

ASSESSMENT
There are two aspects of the assessment of this course; the tutor-marked assignments
and a written examination. In doing these assignments, you are expected to apply
information gathered during the course. The assignments must be submitted to your
tutorial facilitator for formal assessment in accordance with the deadlines stated in the
presentation schedule and the Assignment file. The work that you submit to your tutor
for assessment will count for 30% of your total course mark.

TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA)

There are two types of assessment for this course. These are the tutor-marked
assignments and the end of semester examination. At the end of each unit, there is
the TMA, which you will be expected to attempt, applying the information,
knowledge, and techniques you have acquired in the unit. As the university is now
largely automated in its operations, the tutor-marked assignments are now done and
graded online. This has largely helped in reducing the burden of slowness in
accessing results by students. Make sure you keep up with the dates for submission
of your TMAs on the University/Institute’s web site and your Study Centre. TMAs
constitute 30 per cent of your final assessment.

FINAL EXAMINATION AND GRADING

The final examination constitutes 70 per cent of your final grading score. Moreover,
the institute as noted above now conducts the examination on the electronic platform.
Questions will be drawn from all areas of the course. You will be required to read the
course material very well before the examination. You are also required to improve
your computer skills for your own good.

COURSE MARKING SCHEME

The total score for the course is 100 per cent - comprising 30 per cent TMAs and 70
per cent for the examination. It is advisable that you do all you can to pass both your
TMAs and the examination to give you good standing in your final grade.

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

COURSE OVERVIEW AND PRESENTATION SCHEDULE

S/N Title of Work Weeks of Assessment

Activity
Module 1 Definition and Scope of Semantics
1 Unit 1 Definition and Brief History of 1
Semantics
2 Unit 2 The Scope of Semantics 2
3 Unit 3 Approaches to the Study of 3 TMA 1
Semantics
Module 2 The Study of Meaning
4 Unit 1 The Nature of Meaning 4
5 Unit 2 Theories of Meaning 5
Module 3 Word and Sentence Meaning
6 Unit 1 Semantics and the Study of the 6
Word: Sense Relations
7 Unit 2 Semantics and the Nature of the 7 TMA 2
Lexicon
8 Unit 3 Aspects of Sentential Meaning 8
9 Unit 4 Pragmatics: Conversational 9
Implicative and Speech Acts
Theories
Module 4 Logic and Fallacies
10 Unit 1 Basic Aspects of Linguistics 10
Fallacies
11 Unit 2 Aspects of Material Fallacies 11 TMA 3
Relevant to Semantics
12 Unit 3 Elements of Logic in Semantics 12

Module 5 Semantics and the Practice of Literary Communication

13 Unit 1 The Application of Semantics to 13

Literary Communication

14 Unit 2 The Application of Semantics to 14

Everyday Communication

15 Unit 3 Semantic Problems in Nigerian 15 TMA 4

English
16 Revision 16-17
17 Revision 18-19
18 Examination

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ENG 331 COURSE GUIDE

HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM THIS COURSE

The units are intended to guide you just as a teacher would. You will be required to
read each unit very carefully. You will also need to attempt all the exercises. Each
unit has been presented in a similar structure – introduction, objectives and the main
content. The objectives highlight what you are expected to achieve, while the
introduction provides a short overview. The details are presented in the main text.

FACILITATORS/TUTORS AND TUTORIALS

The University will provide tutors at your different study centres for tutorials on
areas of the course that may be difficult. Tutors are expected to have contacts with
you on specific periods. Your tutors will also assess your progress and comment on
your TMAs.

SUMMARY

The central function of language is communication. Without the sharing of meaning,

there is no communication. Since semantics concentrates on the study of meaning,
the course is critical to success in English and indeed, any other language. The course
is also relevant to law, mass communication and all other branches of liberal studies.
It is advisable to pay attention to this course.