Diachronic Semantics

This course will provide an introduction and both formal and practical training in formal diachronic semantics. While this newly developing field is located at the intersection of the linguistic theory of change and the formal semantic theory, we will devote up to the first half of the course to an introduction of the two linguistic fields, leaving us with the remainder of the semester to explore questions of semantic universality (along with the questions of its diachronic stability), and tendencies of semantic change, which we will romantically attempt formalising in form of principles that can inform diachronic semantic theory. Special regard will be given to the interfacing components of grammar, such as morpho-syntax and pragmatics, which presumably sandwich the semantic module. By the time of completion of this course, the candidates may expect to have been formally trained in theory and methods of not only historical, but also formal semantic analysis.