| Unit name | Philosophy of Language |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL20017 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Mankowitz |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit gives an overview of the most significant developments in the philosophy of language in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will also explore how debates in philosophy of language relate to other areas of philosophy, to linguistics, and to broader social issues.
The first part of the course (Weeks 1-5) covers some classic topics in 20th century philosophy of language, focusing on theories of the semantic meanings of key expressions (names, definite descriptions, natural kind terms), and on the nature of meaning in general.
The second part of the course (Weeks 7-12) looks at some new developments in contemporary philosophy of language and linguistics. There will be an emphasis on understanding the distinction between semantic meaning and pragmatic information, and on using this distinction to understand phenomena related to the social use of language (slurs, lies, etc.). We will also cover the impact of advances in experimental linguistics.
This unit complements other Level I/5 Philosophy units. It covers the role of possible worlds and fictional objects in theories of meaning, which connects with topics in the metaphysical component of Realism & Normativity. A consideration of the meanings of words like ‘good’ helps to contextualise the discussion of moral claims in Realism & Normativity and in Ethics. The discussion of the meanings and social impact of slurs relates to the real-life moral and political topics covered in Ethics. The role of speakers’ intentions and beliefs in determining meanings is linked to issues covered in Philosophy of Mind.
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
None
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHIL20017).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
