LN3003: THEORETICAL SYNTAX (2015-2016)

Course Aims

This course aims to allow students to develop their understanding of contemporary syntactic theory by engaging with primary literature and looking at real-world data. Students will gain familiarity with some of the classic questions of syntactic study, and undertake some of their own analysis.

Main Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, students will have:

1. An understanding of contemporary syntactic theory.
2. Familiarity with some of the classic questions of syntactic study.
3. The theoretical and conceptual tools to engage with primary literature on theoretical syntax.
4. The theoretical and conceptual tools to analyse and present syntactic data.

Course Content

While arranging words into phrases and sentences is something we do without thinking, this process is in fact governed by a complex set of rules which constitute an internal grammar available to speakers of any given language. The study of theoretical syntax takes as a starting point our surface knowledge of how words are combined in different languages, and attempts to systematically describe and explain the types of mental computation which might underlie our linguistic output. This course will allow students to develop the ability to undertake syntactic analysis through engagement with primary literature and examination of real-world data.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

View LN3003 Timetable

More Information about Week Numbers

1st Attempt

1500 Word Written Assignment (25%), 2500 Word Written Assignment (45%), 300 Word Academic Article Summary (10%), Seminar Participation (10%), In-Class Presentation (10%).

Resit

1 Two Hour Examination (100%).

Formative assessment will be given through discussion of seminar topics and students' performance in seminars (on request). Formative assessment will also be provided in written comments on the homework exercises.

Formative assessment will be given in discussion of seminar performance and written work, with individual students being able to request individual feedback. Summative assessment will be provided through the written exercises, the SAM, and the presentation marks.

None.