Linguistics 795

Optimality Theory in Syntax and Phonology

Course Description

The course begins with an introduction to Optimality Theory using our texts and continues on to various topics in Phonology, Syntax, Learning, Computational models. Topics include: Constraints, Constraint ranking and Constraint violability, OT tableaux, Faithfulness and Markedness, OT accounts of Contrasts and Phonetic grounding, Syllabification, Metrical structure and stress, OT accounts of Movement, Case, Voice, Pronominal Inventories, and Focus. We will also discuss some computational models of OT such as finite-state models, along with their limitations, as well as OT approaches to learnability, and some relevant variants such as Stochastic OT. Students will be encouraged to focus on topics suited to their interests, but also to help their colleagues deepen their understanding of these areas. For example, students with a computational background will be encouraged to present papers on computational models and learning algorithms, and to break down computational ideas in ways that are helpful for other students. OT provides an especially fertile field for such exercises, since understanding a computational model of OT can really help one understand how it works.

Finally, we will spend some time discussing how to write an OT paper, since the McCarthy book devotes a chapter to this. Many if not all of the principles discussed there apply to writing a paper in any framework.

Goals	The primary goal of the course is to acquaint students with a basic framework and set of techniques that have proved useful in analyzing a variety of languages.
Practice	The course will use two textbooks and a reading list (note the current reading list contains a superset of course readings): Doing Optimality Theory. John McCarthy. 2007. Blackwell. Optimality Theory Rene Kager, 1999. Cambridge University Press. Readings These will be available at the campus bookstore. There will be exercises for most of the chapters covered.
Pre-requisites	None in particular, though this course is particularly suitable for graduate linguistics students.
Grading	Grading will be based on exercises and presentations, and a final paper. Exercises 20% Presentations 30% Paper 50%
Group Work	Group work is encouraged on the assignments and will be entertained for certain more challenging paper presentations. Students final papers must be their own work. When turning in collaborative assignments, each student must write up their own version of the collaboration, and collaborators should be identified on the paper.
Course outline	here.

Place and Time

Tu 1900-2140 EBA 260

Contact

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: BAM, room 321
Office hours: M 6:00-7:00, Tu 10:30-11:00 Th 10:00-11:00, 12:30-2:00