General information
Course type | AMUPIE |
Module title | Linguistic theory: Syntax |
Language | English |
Module lecturer | prof. dr hab. Jacek Witkoś |
Lecturer's email | wjacek@amu.edu.pl |
Lecturer position | Professor |
Faculty | Faculty of English |
Semester | 2024/2025 (summer) |
Duration | 45 |
ECTS | 4 |
USOS code | 15-LTS-AMU-PIE-11 |
Timetable
Module aim (aims)
(1)Transfer of information concerning the syntax of English phrases and clauses with reference to derivational rules and processes in the generative model of language. (2) Transfer of information concerning the morphology of English, as well as the process of morphological derivation. (3) Developing in the student synthetic and analytic skills required for describing syntactic structures and mastering of the necessary linguistic terminology. (4) Developing in the student of a descriptive approach to grammatical problems and acquisition of aspects of linguistic methodology. (5) Developing a critical approach to, and empirical verification of, theoretical proposals, as well developing skills required for comparative application of the generative model to other languages
Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)
General awareness of language problems and knowledge of descriptive grammar of another language (e.g. Polish)
Syllabus
Week 1: Grammatical categories and the lexicon.
Week 2: Lexicon and phrases
Week 3: Internal structure of phrases in Universal Grammar
Week 4: Phrases and parameters of word order
Week 5: Internal structure of clauses and X-bar theory
Week 6: Aspects of the distribution of anaphoric pronouns
Week 7: Theta theory and the projection principle; syntax embraces the lexicon
Week 8: Representing complex sentences in X-bar theory; consolidation
Week 9: Precedence, dominance and c-command
Week 10: Derivation of inflected verbs: verb raising vs. affix-hop
Week 11: Movement, traces and nominal case
Week 12: Deriving complex sentences: the passive and subject raising
Week 13: Deriving complex sentences: interrogative constructions
Week 14: Island effects and the Minimal Link Condition (MLC)
Week 15: Movement rules; the MLC and revision
Reading list
Carnie, Andrew. 2002. Syntax: A generative Introduction. Malden : Blackwell Publishing
Huddleston, R & J. Pullum. 2002. A Student's Introduction to English Grammar.
Morenberg, Max. 1997, 2002. Doing Grammar. OUP.
O’Grady, W – M. Dobrovolsky – M. Aronoff. 1989, 1993. Contemporary Linguistics: An introduction. New York : St. Martin's Press.
Radford, Andrew. 2004. Minimalist Syntax: Exploring the structure of English. CUP.
Wardhaugh, Roland. 1995. Understanding English grammar: A linguistic approach. Cambridge: Blackwell.
Olaf Koeneman, Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen & Hedde Zeijlstra 2017. Introducing Syntax. CUP.