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Introduction to the Philosophy of Language

Code: 106281
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
English Studies FB 1

Contact lecturer

Name :
Olga Fernandez Prat
Email :
olga.fernandez@uab.cat

Teaching staff (external to UAB)

Martí Bridgewater Mateu

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites

Objectives

The general objective of the course is to introduce students to the main issues and theories of the philosophy of language, while providing them with the conceptual and argumentative tools needed for critical reflection on the nature of language and its relationship with thought, the world and communication.

The specific objectives are:

  1. To understand the fundamental questions of the philosophy of language, such as: What is meaning? How do words refer to things in the world? How does linguistic communication work?
  2. To apply concepts and distinctions from the philosophy of language to the analysis of particular cases of linguistic communication.
  3. To know the main theories and schools of thought within the philosophy of language and to differentiate them from each other.


Learning outcomes

  1. Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
  2. Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
  3. Identify and explain aspects of the philosophy of language using the discipline-specific terminology.
  4. Identify and explain the methods of study of the philosophy of language.
  5. Distinguish and outline the fundamental content of a philosophical argument.
  6. Express oneself in English, orally and in writing, in an academic register and using the appropriate terminology in relation to the study of the philosophy of language.
  7. Understand specialised academic texts on the fundamental concepts of the philosophy of language.
  8. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures governing the field of study.

Contents

  1. Introduction to some fundamental ideas of the philosophy of language
  2. Grammatical form and logical form
  3. Introduction to Formal Logic: Propositional and First-Order
  4. Meaning and Use
  5. Semantics
  6. Theories of intensionality and reference
  7. Semantic internalism and externalism
  8. Presuppositions, sentences without truth value and categorical errors
  9. Pragmatics
  10. Speech Acts
  11. Conversational implicatures
  12. Metaphors and literality


Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Seminars 11 0.44 2, 5, 6
Master classes 35 1.4 2, 3, 4, 5, 7
Readings of the recommended bibliography 44 1.76 1, 2, 4, 5
Case studies 31 1.24 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
tutorship 22 0.88 1, 3, 4, 6, 8

The methodology of the course combines presentations of the theory by teachers and participatory activities in small groups in the form of a seminar.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Multiple choice test or equivalent 30% 2.5 0.1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
Practices (text comments, presentations) 20% 2.5 0.1 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Synthesis exam 50% 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8

The assessment method will consist of three tests. One will be a multiple-choice or short-answer test, another will be a synthesis test, and the final one will be a practical component. Each test will be worth a maximum of 10 points, and students must obtain a global average score—calculated as the sum of the three tests divided by 3 ((P1+P2+P3)/3)—of at least 5 points in order to pass the course. Completing all three tests is mandatory to pass.

Resit Exam:

To be eligible for the resit exam, students must have completed all three components of the continuous assessment and obtained a minimum average score of 3.5.

Single Assessment Option:

This subject does not incorporate the single-assessment option.

When each assessment activity takes place, the instructor will inform students (via Moodle) of the procedure and date for grade review.

Students will receive a grade of “Not assessable” if they have submitted fewer than one-third of the assessed activities.

Erasmus students requesting to take an exam early must provide the instructor with a written document from their home university justifying their request.

  • If a student engages in any irregularity that could significantly alter the result of an assessment, that specific activity will receive a grade of 0, regardless of any disciplinary actions that may follow. If multiple irregularities occur in the same course, the final grade for that course will be 0.

  • The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted at any stage of this course. Any work containing AI-generated content will be considered an act of academic dishonesty and will automatically receive a grade of 0 with no option to resit, or harsher penalties in serious cases.

Bibliography

Acero, J.J, Bustos, E., Quesada, D. (1982). Introducción a la filosofía del lenguaje, Madrid: Cátedra.

Austin, J. L. (1962). How to do things with words. Harvard University Press.

Donnellan, K. S. (1966). Reference and definite descriptions. The Philosophical Review, 75(3), 281–304.

Frege, G. (1997). Sense and reference. In M. Beaney (Ed.), The Frege reader (pp. 151–171). Blackwell. (Original 1892)

Grice, H. P. (1989). Logic and conversation. In Studies in the way of words (pp. 22–40). Harvard University Press. (Original 1975)

Kripke, S. A. (1980). Naming and necessity. Harvard University Press.

Lepore, Ernie & Stojnić, Una (eds.) (2024). The Oxford Handbook of Contemporary Philosophy of Language. Oxford University Press.

Mill, J. S. (1997). Of names. In A. P. Martinich (Ed.), The philosophy of language (3rd ed., pp. 37–42). Oxford University Press. (Original 1843)

Pérez Otero, Manuel (2008). Aproximació a la filosofia del llenguatge (2a ed.). Edicions Universitat de Barcelona.

Putnam, H. (1975). The meaning of "meaning." In K. Gunderson (Ed.), Language, mind and knowledge(Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 7, pp. 131–193). University of Minnesota Press.

Quine, W. V. O. (1960). Word and object. MIT Press.

Russell, B. (1905). On denoting. Mind, 14(56), 479–493.

Searle, J. R. (1958). Proper names. Mind, 67(266), 166–173.

Strawson, P. F. (1950). On referring. Mind, 59(235), 320–344.

Wittgenstein, L. (2009). Philosophical investigations (Rev. 4th ed., G. E. M. Anscombe, P. M. S. Hacker, & J. Schulte, Trans.; P. M. S. Hacker & J. Schulte, Eds.). Wiley-Blackwell. (Original 1953)



Software

No specific software needed

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 1 English second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 2 English second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 2 English second semester morning-mixed