Universität Wien

160171 SE Current topics in modality (2021W)

Continuous assessment of course work
REMOTE

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German, English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 06.10. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 13.10. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 20.10. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 27.10. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 03.11. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 10.11. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 17.11. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 24.11. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 01.12. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 15.12. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 12.01. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 19.01. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 26.01. 09:00 - 10:30 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Modality involves how languages allow us to talk about situations that may not necessarily be real– it's the realm of can, must, should, may, (im)possible, (un)necessary, and similar expressions in other languages. In this course we will be examining the range in how languages encode these meanings– how they carve up the conceptual space and lexicalise it (or not). We will be looking at how semantic theories model these meanings, and in particular at how some more recent work from less studied languages and constructions (variable-force modality, covert modality) can contribute to our understanding of modality as a linguistic phenomenon.

Assessment and permitted materials

The final mark is made up of three parts: attendance and active participation (20%; 2x absence permitted); presentation of a paper with a handout (30%); and a paper or squib related to topics discussed in the course (50%). Students must achieve over 50% in each of these to pass.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

See above. Having done an introductory class in semantics would be helpful.

Examination topics

Topics discussed in class; papers chosen for presentation and topic of papers/squibs to be discussed in advance.

Reading list

Weekly readings to be announced on moodle.

Some overview papers:

von Fintel, K. (2007). Modality and language. In Donald M.
Borchert (2nd edn.) Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Macmillan.

Hacquard, V. (2011). Modality. In Handbücher zur Sprach-und Kommunikationswissenschaft/Handbooks of Linguistics and Communication Science (pp. 1484-1515). De Gruyter Mouton.

Matthewson, L. (2016). Modality. In Maria Aloni & Paul Dekker (eds.), Cambridge handbook of formal semantics, 525–559. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Association in the course directory

MA1-M3

Last modified: Fr 12.05.2023 00:18