TCZJ30 Semantics of sign languages

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Lucia Vlášková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Lucia Vlášková
Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Michaela Květoňová
Supplier department: Department of Linguistics and Baltic Languages – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
the ability to read academic texts in English, completion of some of the introductory formal-linguistic classes (ideally LgBA02 Introduction to syntax, TCZJ19 Theory of syntax, TCZJ48 Formal semantics I or LgBA12 Formal and experimental semantics I)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 11 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course consists of analyzing selected sign language phenomena from the perspective of formal semantics. The aim is to familiarize the students with basic topics in semantics through articles or chapters focusing (mostly) on a specific sign language, and then attempt to apply this knowledge to Czech Sign Language in class discussions.
Learning outcomes
The student will learn to examine structures of sign language from the perspective of formal semantics and, through specific examples from different sign languages, observe the intersection of semantics with neighboring disciplines such as morphology, syntax, and pragmatics.
Syllabus
  • use of sign space: Perniss, P. (2012). 19. Use of sign space. In R. Pfau, M. Steinbach & B. Woll (Ed.), Sign Language: An International Handbook (pp. 412-431). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110261325.412.
  • classifiers: Liddell, S. K. (2003). 9. Sources of Meaning in ASL Classifier Predicates. In Emmorey, K. (Ed.), Perspectives on Classifier Constructions in Sign Languages (1st ed.), (p. 199-220). Psychology Press. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410607447.
  • quantifiers: Kimmelman, V. and Quer, J. (2021). Quantification. In Quer, J., Pfau, R. and Herrmann, A. (Eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Theoretical and Experimental Sign Language Research (pp. 423-439). Routledge. doi/10.4324/9781315754499-19.
  • plurality: Fikejs, J. (2023). Vyjádření plurality v nominální doméně v českém znakovém jazyce. https://is.muni.cz/th/wurx6/.
  • distributivity: očekal, M., & Strachoňová, H. (2022). R-loci and Distributivity: Insights from Czech Sign Language. Studies in Polish Linguistics, 17(1).
  • tense: Lin, H., Kuhn, J., Sheng, H., & Schlenker, P. (2021). Timelines and Temporal Pointing in Chinese Sign Language. Glossa: a journal of general linguistics, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.16995/glossa.5836.
  • aspect: Malaia, E., & Milković, M. (2021). Aspect. In Quer, J., Pfau, R. and Herrmann, A. (Eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Theoretical and Experimental Sign Language Research (pp. 194-212). Routledge. doi/10.4324/9781315754499-9.
  • logical visibility and iconicity: Schlenker, P. (2021). Logical visibility and iconicity in sign language semantics. In Quer, J., Pfau, R. and Herrmann, A. (Eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Theoretical and Experimental Sign Language Research (pp. 500-529). Routledge. doi/10.4324/9781315754499-23.
  • degree semantics: Aristodemo, V., & Geraci, C. (2018). Visible degrees in Italian Sign Language. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, 36, 685-699. doi/10.1007/s11049-017-9389-5.
Teaching methods
discussion of weekly reading material
Assessment methods
homework assignments, written exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
this course will be taught to minimum of 5 students
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/TCZJ30