Studying at York
Advanced Topics in Syntax - LAN00105M
- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Module co-ordinator: Prof. Peter Sells
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Module summary
Building on previous syntax modules, extending to cross-linguistic syntax, with a focus on formal properties of syntactic structures and syntactic features.
Related modules
A background in formal generative grammar is expected
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
This module aims to support independent research in formal generative syntax by encouraging discussion with staff and peers, engaging with materials from current high-level research.
Module learning outcomes
Before you start the module you should:
-
be familiar with and be able to apply the principles of generative syntax in the analysis of relevant data sets
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be familiar with the concepts of the architecture of grammar and be able to use data to argue for such an architecture
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be able to understand and formulate complex argumentation
By the end of the module students should minimally:
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be able to articulate the theoretical and empirical issues regarding major parametric differences in clausal structure, constituent order, and formal mechanisms of analysis
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be able to engage with primary research literature
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be able to conduct independent syntactic research
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be able to plan, research and write a final essay on formal syntactic description and analysis
Module content
The module will run seminar-style, with a focus on different clausal structures, in the first instance across languages of Europe, from Irish to Russian. Students will read articles and chapters, and will make presentations of parts of the readings. Part of each seminar meeting will be given over to summarisation of the key points and main implications of the analyses. Students will choose their topic for the final essay in the second half of the semester.
Assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Advanced Topics in Syntax written work 1 |
N/A | 20 |
| Essay/coursework Advanced Topics in Syntax written work 2 |
N/A | 80 |
Special assessment rules
None
Reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Advanced Topics in Syntax written work 2 |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
Written and oral feedback on formative assessments within 10 working days.
Written and oral feedback on summative assessments within 20 working days.
Indicative reading
Zanuttini, Raffaella. 1994. Re-examining Negative Clauses. In G. Cinque et al. (eds.) Paths towards Universal Grammar, Studies in Honor of Richard S. Kayne. Georgetown, Georgetown University Press, 427-451.
Walkden, George. 2016. Eastern Generative Grammar summer school lectures on V2, 1-16.
Mikkelsen, Line. 2015. VP anaphora and verb-second order in Danish. Journal of Linguistics 51, 595-643.
Gribanova, Vera. 2017. Head movement and ellipsis in the expression of Russian polarity focus. Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 35, 1079-1121.
McCloskey, James. 2017. Ellipsis, polarity and the cartography of verb-initial orders in Irish. In Enoch Aboh, Eric Haeberli, Genoveva Puskás, and Manuela Schönenberger (eds.), Elements of comparative syntax: Theory and description. Berlin, De Gruyter, 99-151.
Abels, Klaus. 2001. The predicate cleft construction in Russian. In Steven Franks and Michael Yadroff (eds.), Formal Approaches to Slavic Linguistics 9. Bloomington, IN, Michigan Slavic Publications, 1-19.
Vicente, Luis. 2009. An alternative to remnant movement for partial predicate fronting. Syntax 12, 158-191.
Harizanov, Boris and Vera Gribanova. 2019. Whither head movement? Natural Language and Linguistic Theory 37, 461-522.