Last Update: October 15, 2006

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ENG 701: PRINCIPLES OF LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS

 

MA in Applied Linguistics, Department of English Studies , University of Cyprus

 

Fall Semester 2006: Tuesdays, 9.00 - 13.30 *** Room M 105

 

http://www.punksinscience.org/kleanthes/courses/UCY06F/PLA

Kleanthes Grohmann *** Email: kleanthi AT ucy DOT ac DOT cy

Room 104, Phone: x2106 *** Office Hours: TUE & FRI 15.00-16.30 & by appointment

 

 

DESCRIPTION

The course is an introduction to the scientific study of language from a generative perspective. Its general objective is to present fundamental properties and various aspects of language, and deals with all levels of linguistic analysis: phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics. More specifically, the minimalist program for linguistic theory will be carefully studied. Consequently the focus will be syntax and syntactic theory, but guest lecturers will present state-of-the-art research in semantics and phonology. As such, this course nicely complements the more applied coursework students will engage in over the next few semesters with a theoretical challenge.

 

ASSESSMENT

Regular attendance is strongly advised! The grading for this course breaks down as follows:

1.  two joint presentations of a published article (40%)

2.  one short abstract outlining a research project (10%)

3.  one research paper on a topic of your choice (50%)

4.  active class participation (grade adjustment) (±xä)

Your joint presentations should be prepared by bothstudents, but presented by only one. (This way, every pair works on two articles including further readings and discusses the material, and in turn, every student gets to present once.)The presentation should be around 25-30 minutes long and critically present the article under consideration. For this, further readings might be necessary.

Your short abstract should not exceed 2 pages but be written in full prose. You pick a research topic and sketch what you would want to say, claim, or explore. In the worst case, it would be an extended introduction or overview, in the best case it would constitute a professional abstract that could be submitted to a(n international, competitive) conference for selection. Pick your ambitions!

Your research paper may pick up what you sketch in your abstract, or it can engage in a different topic. It should be a fully researched and written up piece of work, ideally no more than 20 pages.

For all of this, please consult with me before handing in or presenting anything!

 

 READING

There is one required textbook on syntax of which every student must have his/her own copy! (Moufflon Bookshop has enough copies, but they will return those not purchased by September 30.)

Norbert Hornstein, Jairo Nunes, and Kleanthes K. Grohmann  (2005) 
Understanding Minimalism.  Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
["HNG" -- a glossary of terminology can be downloaded here]

There are also supplementary texts (all but the first handed out in the first class; downloadable below):

Cheryl A. Black   (1999)  'A Step-by-Step Introduction to the Government and Binding Theory of Syntax'.
Manuscript, Summer Institute of Linguistics.

Andrew McIntyre  (2000)  'English Morphology'.
Manuscript, University of Leipzig.

Andrew McIntyre  (2003)  'Fundamentals of English Syntax'.
Manuscript, University of Leipzig.

Andrew McIntyre  (n.d.)  'English Phonetics and Phonology 1'.
Manuscript, University of Leipzig.

You may also find it interesting to browse through this encyclopedia in the library:

Keith Brown and Anne Anderson (eds.).  2006.  Encyclopedia of Language and Linguistics.
Amsterdam: Elsevier.  [second edition, P29.E5 2006 - v.1-14]

In addition, the short term loan shelves in the library carry 15+15 titles that I reserved (see here; the following works are downloadable).

Mark C. Baker & Chris Collins (2006) 'Linkers and the Internal Structure of vP'. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 24.2: 307-354.

Cedric Boeckx (2006) 'Some Notes on Bounding'. Unpublished manuscript, Harvard University.

Theodora Alexopoulou (2006) 'Resumption in Relative Clauses'. Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 24.1: 57-111.

John Frampton & Sam Gutmann (2006) 'How Sentences Grow in the Mind: Agreement and Selection in an Efficient Minimalist Syntax'. In C. Boeckx (ed.), Agreement Systems. Amsterdam: John Benjamins, 121-157.

Fabian Heck & Gereon M¸ller (2006) 'Derivational Optimization of Wh-Movement'. To appear in Linguistic Analysis 33.1-2 (Special Issue on Dynamic Interfaces, guest editor: K.K. Grohmann).

Anthi Revithiadou & Vassilios Spyropoulos (2006) 'A Dynamic Approach to the Syntax-Phonology Interface: A Case Study from Greek'. To appear in K.K. Grohmann (ed.), InterPhases: Phase-Theoretic Investigations of Linguistic Interfaces. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Peter Svenonius (2006) 'Interpreting Uninterpretable Features'. To appear in Linguistic Analysis 33.3-4 (Special Issue on Dynamic Interfaces, guest editor: K.K. Grohmann).

 

PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism is a serious offence! Please make yourself familiar with the rules (again) if youπre not quite sure. Basically, it means that you cannot simply copy and paste text you find on the internet, in books, or from other sources (including your classmates) for your written work! If I detect cheating or plagiarism in any way, I will report you to the Board of the Department of English Studies ã as a consequence, you automatically fail this course and face more severe punishment which can even lead to expulsion from university. So, be honest and work honest.