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Linguistics 795
Optimality Theory
This course will serve as an introduction
to constraint-based linguistic theory,
focusing on Optimality Theory, using examples from
Phonology and Syntax from a variety of languages.
The primary goal of the class is to provide a concrete
set of ideas that constitute a method for getting
from a body of data to an analysis.
The course will
use two textbooks and a reading list (note the current
reading list contains a superset of the actual course readings):
- Doing Optimality Theory. John McCarthy. 2007. Blackwell.
- Optimality Theory Rene Kager, 1999. Cambridge University Press.
- Reading list
These will be available at the campus bookstore.
There will be exercises for most
of the chapters covered.
The course begins with an introduction to Optimality
Theory (henceforth OT) using material from the two texts.
We will focus on Phonological issues for the first part of
the course because most of the main ideas of
the framework were developed in the course of grappling
with phonological issues. However, the motivating
principles of OT are very general and apply quite naturally
to all linguistic levels. We will spend the second half of the
course examining syntactic issues. Along the way we
will try to understand some of the major advantages this
framework brings, such as an account
of rule "conspiracies" and markedness,
as well as some key issues, such as optionality,
variation, ineffability, and opacity.
Grading will be based on exercises/projects and
a final paper.
TuTh 19:00-21:40 EBA 260
Mailing address:
Department of Linguistics and Oriental Languages
San Diego State University
5500 Campanile Drive
San Diego, CA 92182-7727
Telephone: (619) 594-0252
Office location: EBA, room 321
Office hours: Tu 6:00-7:00 W 6:00-7:00 Th 12:30-2:00
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