Competence/performance and the theory of syntax

Aims

Aims

The aims of the module are:

• To inform the student about past and present debates concerning the competence vs. performance distinction in linguistic theory.
• To examine in some detail areas of syntactic analysis in which the competence/performance distinction has been controversial, specifically constraints on movement (island constraints) and, if time permits, constraints on pronominal interpretation.

Prerequisites

Prerequisites

Students must have successfully completed ONE of the following:

• L230 Introduction to Syntactic Theory (4190230)
• L241 Introduction to Psycholinguistics (4190341)

Programme

Programme

Contact hours

Three hours per week.

Teaching programme

The class hours will involve lectures serving the two aims above, and discussion of the lecture content and additional illustrative studies.

Teaching materials

A selection of articles will be made available.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on formative work

Written comments on class exercises returned in the following week’s seminar. 

Assessment and feedback

Students will write:

• Four formative one page answers, of which two will be resubmitted in Spring Term, week 7 as summative work, worth 20% of the mark for the module.
• Two essays, each worth 40% of the mark for the module, will be due in Spring Term Week 10 (Essay 1) and Summer Term Week 4 (Essay 2).
  • Feedback: The marked essays will be available for students to view within six weeks of submission.

Skills

Transferable skills developed in this module

All modules provide an opportunity to work on general oral/written communication skills (in class and in assessments) and general self management (organising your studies), alongside the specific skills in language or linguistics that the module teaches.

In addition, this module will allow you to particularly develop skills in the application of data management skills. In this module you will have the opportunity to develop skills in the design of experimental materials, as well as in the analysis of experimental results.

Follow this link to hear how past students use transferable skills from their degree in their current jobs.