Spring 2001
University of Chicago
Syntax 2 (Linguistics 205/305)
Syllabus
(get the pdf version)
Technical specs:
Time: TTh 10:30-11:50
Place: Cobb 206
Instructor: Jason Merchant
Office hours: Tu 1-3pm or by appointment
Office: Classics 305
Tel: (70)2-8523
email: merchant@uchicago.edu
There are two related goals of this course:
1. To introduce the fundamentals of recent work in theoretical
syntax
2. To develop the analytical and expository skills necessary
for success in linguistics
Course description:
This course introduces the fundamental goals and assumptions of current
syntactic theory through the examination of primary data from natural languages
with the goal to put you in a position to pursue more advanced study on
the structure of human languages and to provide a foundation for your own
research. After reviewing the basic concepts of modern grammatical
theory, the course moves on to the principles of current theoretical syntax:
phrase structure and constituency, the interaction of syntax and the lexicon,
and the nature and type of movement operations. Strong emphasis is
placed on providing coherent argumentation and empirical justification
for theoretical claims, as well as overall understanding of theoretical
concepts. Although the primary source of linguistic data will be
English, examples may also be drawn from other languages.
Teaching method:
Lecture and discussion. Problem sets to develop skills in analysis
of primary data, construction of empirical arguments for theoretical claims,
and expository writing.
Evaluation method:
Weekly problem sets involving 4-8-page write-ups; take-home final of 10-15
pages. Evaluation will be based about equally on analytical content
and strength of argumentation, with particular focus on the presentation
of empirical justification for claims and the form and clarity of the prose.
Weekly assignments: 75%, final: 15%, class participation: 10%.
Reading:
Supplementary readings from L. Haegeman (1994), Introduction to Government
and Binding Theory (2nd ed.) and L. Rizzi (1990), Relativized Minimality,
as well as possibly other short readings.
Overview of the contents of the course:
Time permitting, the following topics will be covered (roughly in
the order below):
-
The basics of phrase structure (X-bar theory)
-
The lexicon; types of lexical information; the interaction between the
lexicon and the phrase structure system (the theory of selection)
-
The basics of clausal architecture; functional and lexical categories
-
Expletives and impersonal constructions; the extended projection principle
-
The internal subject hypothesis and the organization of the VP
-
Case theory
-
Passive constructions, unaccusatives and unergatives
-
Raising and control (‘equi’)
-
wh-movement, islands, and the Empty Category Principle
-
General properties of movement
-
Binding Theory (reflexives, pronouns)
Guidelines for writing up assignments:
The assignments will take the form of short papers aimed at explaining
sets of problematic data using, and (where necessary) extending, the set
of assumption adopted in class. Emphasis will be placed on providing
empirical justification for claims, strength of argumentation, and form
and clarity. You are encouraged to work together in developing solutions
to the problems in the assignments, with the following two requirements:
(i) you must acknowledge your collaborators (i.e., include a footnote
saying who you worked with), and
(ii) you must write up the assignments individually
Write-ups should be in prose, with all examples, trees, rules, etc.,
numbered. The general structure will be to introduce a set of data
(pointing out generalizations as necessary), explain their significance,
propose or reiterate one or several hypotheses about the data, and argue
for the superiority of a particular hypothesis on the basis of the data,
introducing new data as relevant.
In general, assignments will be handed out on Thursdays, and due at
the beginning of class on the following Tuesday. We will generally
spend a good deal of Tuesday’s class developing a theory of the data in
the assignment. For this reason, late assignments cannot be accepted.