Syntax Syllabus

Course Outline

Linguistics 522

The table below gives an approximate schedule of classes, assignments, and lectures for this course. On days that are shaded gray, class does not meet. Days shaded gray before the last day of classes are either holidays or furlough days.

Days shaded gray after the last day of classes represent content that would have been covered in class in not for furlough days. This gives you some measure of the reduction in class content due to furloughs.

Day

Reading

Assignment

Lecture

Background
Tue Aug 31 Chapter 1, Chapter 2 No exercises from chapter 1; From Chapter 2: Exercises 1, 6 and Challenge Problems 1 and 2. Generative Syntax lecture. Glossary of syntax terms.  
Thu Sep 02        
Tue Sep 07 Chapter 2. Parts of speech Chapter 3. Constituency 4d-h,q, r, 8, Challenge Problems 2, 3, Chapter 3.
  1. Parts of speech
  2. Noun noun compounds
  3. Constituency and Constituency Tests
  4. Using trees for Constituency: the golden rule
  1. Background notes
  2. Tree-drawing website
  3. Tree-Drawing Tips
  4. Other languages
Thu Sep 09        
Tue Sep 14 Chapter 4 (not a fun read!). Phrase-structure rules. Dominance, precedence, and C-command 4. 2(10-16), 7[9-19], 9. Challenge problem 3. Structural relations Alternative Lecture Model answers for assignment 1
Thu Sep 16        
Tue Sep 21 Chapter 5. The Binding Theory; Anaphors, pronouns, and R-expressions Chapter 5 Exercises: Problems 2, 4; Challenge problem 4,6 Lecture

Model answers for Ch. 2 homework

Model answers for Ch. 4 homework

Thu Sep 23        
Tue Sep 28 Chapter 6. Xbar Syntax Exercises, p.190-196. Problem 1a,b,d; 3; 7a,c,d,e,k; Challenge Problem 4. Lectures:
  1. 6.1 Intermediate constituents.
  2. 6.2 Cross-categorial generalizations: Complement, Adjunct, Specifier.
  3. 6.3 Parameterizing word order
 
Thu Sep 30        
Tue Oct 05        
Thu Oct 07 Chapter 6. Xbar Syntax (ctd). Second week on this. Challenge probs: 2,3 from Chapter 6. Lectures:
  1. 6.2 Cross-categorial generalizations: Complement, Adjunct, Specifier.
  2. 6.3 Parameterizing word order
  1. Background Chapter 6
Tue Oct 12        
Thu Oct 14 Chapter 7: Advanced Xbar Syntax;

Introducing Functional heads: CP, TP, DP

 Midterm. Attention! This version is NEW (10-14-10)!    
Tue Oct 19   Assignment: Exercises, p. 214-216. Problem 1 2, 3, 4[d,e,f,g,h], Challenge 1 Functional Heads lecture  
Thu Oct 21        
Tue Oct 26 Chapter 8. The Lexicon Chapter 8: Exercises 3,4, 5, Challenge #4 Lecture Complements and Adjuncts
Thu Oct 28        
Tue Nov 02 Chapter 9. Head to head movement Chapter 9: Exercises 1, 2, 7, 9b,d,e,f (draw S-structure trees, not D-Structure), Challenge 2, 3. Lecture.  
Thu Nov 04        
Tue Nov 09 Chapter 10. DP Movement Exercises 1(draw S-structure trees, not D-Structure), 2, 4, 5, 6 DP Movement lecture  
Thu Nov 11 H'day H'day H'day H'day
Tue Nov 16        
Thu Nov 18 Chapter 10 ctd. Exercises 7, 9, Challenge 3    
Tue Nov 23 Chapter 11. Wh Movement Exercises 1[a,b,c,d,h,j,k,o,p,q] (draw S-structure trees, not D-Structure) 5, 6, Challenge 1, 2, 3 Movement  
Thu Nov 25 H'day H'day H'day H'day
Tue Nov 30        
Thu Dec 02 Chapter 10, 11. Consolidation Challenge 3 (Chapter 10), Auxiliary exercises for Ch. 10. Exercises 2, 4 (Chapter 11) [Exc. 4 suggest an amendment for the relevant constraint.]    
Tue Dec 07        
Thu Dec 09 Chapter 12. Minimalism Assignment Final exam. Final review. Answers to last assignment German head movement. Unified Movement lecture  
Tue Dec 14        
Thu Dec 16 Chapter 13. Expanded VP      
Tue Dec 21        
Thu Dec 23 Chapter 14. Raising and Control