Linguistic Meaning and Speech Acts: The Theory of Assertion

Have you ever wondered how a subtle change in word choice can completely alter the underlying message of a sentence? Beyond literal definitions, human language relies on a complex web of context, intention, and social force to convey meaning. This text-only course introduces you to the foundational concepts of formal semantics and pragmatics, with a special focus on speech acts and the theory of assertion. Through clear written explanations and analytical exercises, you will discover how speakers modulate the strength of their statements, signal the source of their knowledge, and influence conversations. You will learn to deconstruct everyday speech and see how minor structural shifts change how information is received. What you'll learn: - Understand the fundamental distinction between semantics (literal meaning) and pragmatics (contextual meaning). - Analyze how speech acts and performative utterances allow us to perform actions through words. - Explore the mechanics of assertion and how adverbs, parentheticals, and clauses shift a sentence's force. - Examine cross-linguistic patterns of evidentiality and discourse particles in global languages. - Apply modern pragmatic frameworks to real-world written dialogues and texts. - Evaluate how context and shared background knowledge shape successful communication. The course begins with key terminology, basic concepts, and foundational definitions of linguistic meaning before moving into the practical analysis of assertions, embeddings, and cross-linguistic examples. You will progress through structured text-based readings and written analytical exercises designed to sharpen your linguistic skills. This course is designed for absolute beginners interested in linguistics, communication, or the philosophy of language, with no prior prerequisites required. Start exploring the hidden mechanics of human communication today.