Modules
Experimental Pragmatics
Anna Teresa Porrini, Erying Qin
Experimental Pragmatics is a relatively new branch of linguistics that focuses on investigating, through experimental methodologies, how language is understood beyond its literal meaning and within a communicative context. In this module, we will first give an introduction to Experimental Pragmatics, describing its main aims and characteristics, and then focus on one of the most studied instances of pragmatic language: scalar implicatures/scalar inferences (SIs). Using SIs as a test case, we will then take turns to illustrate the various experimental approaches that can be used to test theories on their processing and derivation, focusing on how the different methodologies can contribute to understanding this phenomenon.
Outline:
Session 1: Introduction to Experimental Pragmatics and SIs
Session 2: Scalar diversity: analysing the variation between rates at which different scalar terms generate SIs (EQ)
Session 3: Some vs. numbers: can SI-based approaches be used to account for the various readings of numbers? (EQ)
Session 4: Some implicatures are costly: methodologies to study online processing of SIs (Anna)
Session 5: Developmental studies: how can we investigate how children interpret SIs? (Anna)
Introduction to Compositional Semantics
Wenkai Tay
How can we build up the meaning of sentences from the meaning of words? In this module, we will learn how to translate words into expressions in lambda calculus. The material we cover will be essential to anyone wishing to work in formal semantics or the syntax-semantics interface.
Outline:
Session 1: Language as a meaning machine
Session 2: Combining multiple machines
Session 3: Creating a homemade machine
Sessions 4 & 5: Feeding machines into machines
Prerequisites: No prior background in semantics is assumed. Knowledge of basic propositional logic and set theory is ideal but not required.
Researching Language in Atypical Populations
Elisa Mattiauda, Lily Nentcheva, Disa Witkowska, Jess Goulston
This course aims to give students an introduction to developmental linguistics and highlight the contributions of language research with 'atypical' populations. We will cover research on language development, consider its theoretical contributions, and discuss methodological issues for experimental design. Students will have a chance to hear about ongoing research carried out within the department involving both child and adult populations. The course will include interactive elements designed to familiarise students with language assessment and elicitation methods.
Outline:
Session 1: Introducing developmental research and language disorders (Elisa)
Session 2: Language and cognition in learning disabilities (Elisa & Lily)
Session 3: Multilingualism and English as an Additional Language (EAL) (Disa)
Session 4: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) (Jess)
Session 5: Narrative as a tool for language assessment (Elisa & Disa)
Note: this course will start on Tuesday 24th October.
Literal and Non-literal Uses of Language
Teru Konishi, Xinxin Yan, Yolanda García-Lorenzo
What is ‘explicitly’ uttered in communication often does not directly reflect what is meant by the speaker. When you say that there are a ton of sandwiches in the kitchen, you do not mean that there is a ‘literal’ ton of food– what is often meant is that there is simply a lot of food. Similarly, when Romeo says Juliet is the sun, his claim is not that Juliet is a flaming astronomical object.
But how do we comprehend and understand such ‘non-literal’ uses of language?
This module aims to shed light on some potential answers to this question, by covering different tropes each session.
Outline:
Session 1: Metaphor (Teru Konishi)
Session 2: Simile (Xinxin Yan)
Session 3: Irony (Yolanda García-Lorenzo)
Session 4: Allegory and other literary devices (Teru Konishi)
Session 5: TBD
Introduction to the Eye-tracking Method and its Application in Language Research
Yiling Huo, Kayla Chen
Eye-tracking allows researchers to gain insight into human cognition and attention, and is becoming a very popular tool in psycholinguistics. In this course, I will give you an introduction to the eye-tracking method and its application in research on reading as well as spoken language processing. On day 4 I will invite Kayla to talk about pupillometry, eye-tracking’s cousin method, and its application to language research. For day 5, I will bring a demo experiment to the class before answering your questions and/or tell you a bit more about what you are interested.
Outline:
Session 1: Introduction to the Human Visual System and the Eye-tracking Method
Session 2: Reading
Session 3: Spoken Language Processing in a Visual Context
Session 4: Pupillometry (Kayla K. Chen)
Session 5: Demo experiment and Q&A
Module content: https://yiling-huo.github.io/eye-tracking-workshop-slides/