CreteLing-2026-Super Linguistics

Introduction to Super Linguistics

CreteLing 2026

Philippe Schlenker 

(LINGUAE, Institut Jean-Nicod, CNRS)

July 20-24, 2026 - Rethymno, Crete

Site under construction!

Topic

We will offer an introduction to Super Linguistics (using the term 'super' in its original Latinate meaning 'beyond'), which we define as the application of formal methods inspired by linguistics to non-standard objects (beyond standard linguistic objects of study). In this course, we zoom in on iconic meanings and their interaction with linguistic structure.  We will start by explaining why syntax and semantics must both be extended with an iconic component to deal with certain constructions of sign language. We will then see that pure gestures that replace words in spoken language ('pro-speech gestures') can trigger all the inferential types (presuppositions, implicatures, etc.) that normal words do. Turning to co-speech gestures, we will argue that they typically contribute certain types of (conditionalized) presuppositions, called 'cosuppositions'. Finally, time permitting, we will sketch the argument for the view that music has a meaning, and we will argue that cartoon or film music modifies the meaning of animations in the same way as co-speech gestures modify the meaning of words.

The class does not presuppose familiarity with super linguistic topics. However introductory knowledge of semantics and pragmatics will be assumed.

General readings for this course: 

Patel-Grosz, Pritty, Salvador Mascarenhas, Emmanuel Chemla, Philippe Schlenker (Linguistics & Philosophy 2023).  Super Linguistics: an Introduction. [LingBuzz]

Schlenker, Philippe (2019). What is Super Semantics? Philosophical Perspectives [LingBuzz]

Also relevant:
Emar Maier (2026) Superlinguistics

Material for the class (readings, slides) will either (i) be linked to the sessions below, or (ii) be made available in this Dropbox folder.

Instructor email

Schlenker: philippe.schlenker@gmail.com

Sessions  (to be adapted as we go) 

Class 1: Monday, July 20, 2026

Why syntax and semantics need an iconic component 

Readings: one of the following:

Introductory-level: Schlenker, Chapter 2 of What it All Means  (preprint in the Dropbox folder)

Research (long):
Schlenker and Lamberton 2024, Iconological Semantics
Schlenker et al. 2024, Iconic Syntax

Class 2: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

rhe typology of inferences in pro-speech gestures (and beyond)

 Readings: one of the following:

Introductory-level: Schlenker, Chapter 14 of What it All Means  (preprint in the Dropbox folder)
Survey:  Schlenker, The Meaning and Grammar of Pure Gestures: Theoretical Insights
Research: Tieu et al. 2019, Linguistic Inferences without Words

Class 3: Thursday, July 23, 2026

Co-speech gestures and beyond
Readings:  one of the following:

Introductory-level: Schlenker, Chapter 12 of What it All Means  (preprint in the Dropbox folder)
Tieu et al. Co-speech gesture projection: evidence from inferential judgments
Research: Schlenker, Gesture Projection and Cosuppositions

Optional: Tieu et al. Experimental evidence for a semantic typology of emoji: Inferences of co-, pro-, and post-text emoji

Class 4: Friday, July 24, 2026

The meaning of music and of co-film music  (time permitting)

Readings: one of the following:

Introductory-level: Schlenker, Chapter 15 of What it All Means  (preprint in the Dropbox folder)
Research: Schlenker, Musical Meaning within Super Semantics