Linguistics 4195 Computational Semantics Course Home (Fall 2016)

Table of Contents:

• Instructor
• Office Hours
• Class Time
• Required Texts
• Course Description
• Requirements
• Attendance and Evaluation
• Final Grades
• Course Schedule for Fall 2016
• Academic Dishonesty
• Appropriate Classroom Conduct

Instructor: Chongwon Park, Ph.D. (TA: Kevin Swanberg)

Office Hours: 10:00 - 10:55AM, MW (H 431)

Class Time: 3:00 - 3:50, MWF (H 484)

Required Texts:

1. Computational Semantics with Functional Programming (Jan van Eijick & Christina Unger, Cambridge University Press)
2. Learn you a Haskell for Great Good! - A Beginnier's Guide (Miran Lipovaca, No Starch Press). This text is not required but strongly recommended.

Course Description:

In this course, students learn how to compute meaning using the functional programming language Haskell. Starting with the fundamental notions in mathematical logic, we will discuss what formal sematics is and what formal semantics is not. Among the notions discussed are compositionality, lambda calculus, extension/intension, and parsing. These notions will then be computationally implemented in Haskell. The learning outcomes of this class are:

• [1] understanding the fundamental notions in formal semantics
• [2] understanding the notion of functional programming
• [3] being familiar with Haskell's syntax and semantics
• [4] implementing formal semantic analysese in Haskell

Requirements:

You will have a total of 8 assignments, 1 mid-term, and 1 final exam. All the assignments and the midterm consist of problem solving questions. In lieu of a final exam, students are required to design a short Haskell program that deals with a semantic issue. Students should consult me to find an appropriate topic after the mid-term. Upon my approval, students are allowed to start their projects. Students are encouraged to consult me on a regular-basis during this process. The deadline of the paper is December 14, 2016 (4pm).

Attendance and Evaluation:

It is important for you to be present for every class. Every homework assignment should be turned in on the due date (or before the due date) in class. Evaluation will be based on the following weight. IMPORTANT: I DO NOT accept late assignments (no exceptions). E-mail submissions WILL NOT be accepted.

While students are expected to attend every single class period, there are circumstances that lead to excused absence from the classroom. Excused absences are defined at http://www.duluth.umn.edu/vcaa/ExcusedAbsence.html. To be eligible for an excused absence, a student must provide written documents such as a doctor's note and/or a letter from his/her advisor. For each class you miss, 1 point will be deducted, but if your attendance is perfect (any absences being excused) you will receive 3 bonus points.

Final Grades:

• 93 - 100: A
• 90 - 92: A-
• 87 - 89: B+
• 83 - 86: B
• 80 - 82: B-
• 77 - 79: C+
• 73 - 76: C
• 70 - 72: C-
• 67 - 69: D+
• 63 - 66: D
• 60 - 62: D-
• 59 or less: F

Course Schedule for Fall 2016:

Academic Dishonesty:

Academic dishonesty tarnishes UMD's reputation and discredits the accomplishments of students. UMD is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. This pledge can only be redeemed in an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. As a result, academic dishonesty is regarded as a serious offense by all members of the academic community. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which can be found at http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/integrity. This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders.

Appropriate Classroom Conduct:

The instructor will enforce and students are expected to follow the University's Student Conduct Code (http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/code). Appropriate classroom conduct promotes an environment of academic achievement and integrity. Disruptive classroom behavior that substantially or repeatedly interrupts either the instructor's ability to teach, or student learning, is prohibited. Disruptive behavior includes inappropriate use of technology in the classroom. Examples include ringing cell phones, text-messaging, watching videos, playing computer games, checking email, or surfing the Internet or Facebooking (or facebooking) on your computer instead of note-taking or other instructor-sanctioned activities.