THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS 1

This course is designed for the students of the Master course in Language Sciences. The course "Theoretical Linguistics" is a basic one in the language science curriculum. By means of these classes the students will be able to achieve the competence and the understanding of the fundamental principles of linguistic theory. The goal is the development of the knowledge of advanced linguistics, learning the most relevant principle in of the Minimalist linguistic framework.

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.
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 generative linguistics.

In this course I will analyze some issues concerning the syntax-pragmatics interface. In particular, i will discuss the following topics:
- the role of the speaker in the interpretation of utterances.
- the syntax/prosody interface, with special reference to parentheticals.

Selected chapters from the following texts:
Dehé & Kavalova, 2007, Parentheticals, John Benjamins Pub.
van Gelderen, 2017, An Introduction to Minimalism, John Benjamins
Giorgi, 2010, About the Speaker, Oxford University Press
Giorgi, 2014, Prosodic Signals as Syntactic Formatives in the Left Periphery , On Peripheries: Exploring Clause Initial and Clause Final Positions, Tokyo, Hituzi Syobo Press, pp. 161-188
Giorgi, 2016, Integrated parentheticals in quotations and free indirect discourse , Indirect reports and pragmatics, Springer International Publishing, pp. 471-488

Written examination. Students will have one hour to answer 5 open questions on the topics discussed in the lectures.

traditional frontal classes.

Italian

written