ADVANCED SYNTAX

This course is designed for students of the Master course in Language Sciences (SL): Master's Degree Programme SCIENZE DEL LINGUAGGIO - Laurea magistrale (DM270)

The aim of this course is both theoretical and practical. Beside the presentation and discussion of the most important theoretical notions in generative and minimalist grammar, the students will receive teaching about research methods in Linguistics. The students will be required to show that they can use the theoretical notions in their own work, autonomously and creatively. the main topic of the course concerns the relationships between utterances and contexts, in particular special questions, the expression of feelings such as surprise and disapproval.
1. Knowledge and comprehension
Knowledge and understanding of the main properties connected with the interpretation of utterances cin specific contexts.
2. Ability of applying competence and comprehension
Being able to use the formal linguistic analysis instruments to describe the temporal and aspectual properties of utterances.
3. Judgment abilities
Showing of being able to develop hypotheses about the topics discussed in the classes.
4. Communicative abilties
to be able to write about the analyzed issues and to explain the basic hypotheses to the peer group.
5. learning abilities
to be able to identify and discuss the critical points with respect to written texts and specific linguistic varieties.

Basic notions of general linguistics.

Introduction to recent theoretical perspectives in Generative Grammar, with particular reference to the Minimalist Theory. Introduction to the Antisymmetry Theory. Analysis of linearization issues, in particular with respect to the interpretation of pronouns and nominal expressions.

selected pages from:
Van Gelderen, 2014, Syntax: an introduction to Minimalism, John Benjamins
Kayne, 1994, The Antisymmetry of Syntax, MIT Press
A. Giorgi, 2006, From temporal anchoring to long distance anaphors, Natural Language & Linguistic Theory 24 (4), 1009-1047
A. Giorgi, 2007, On the nature of long distance anaphors, Linguistic Inquiry 38 (2), 321-342
S Sundaresan, 2018, perspective is syntactic: evidence form anaphora, Glossa: a journal of general linguistics 3 (1)

The exam is written. The candidate will answer 5 open questions, up to 6 points each, on the topics and the readings of the lectures, in one hour time. The student will pass the exam only if they will totalize at least 18 points.

teaching modality: traditional classes.

English

written