Studying at York
Comparative Syntax & Syntactic Typology - LAN00067M
- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Module co-ordinator: Prof. Giuseppe Longobardi
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
Module summary
The module will address the question whether in all or some languages there exists a dedicated and obligatory syntactic category to introduce nominal phrases even in the absence of visible articles or quantifiers. Then it will discuss the crosslinguistic feature composition of the position which hosts such elements.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2021-22 |
Module aims
This module links formal comparative syntax and syntactic typology. The module explores the formal underpinnings of typological generalisations focussing on the syntax of nominal constituents (DPs) and its interaction with features and movement rules.
Module learning outcomes
The students will achieve full awareness of the notions of:
levels of adequacy in linguistic theory
parametric variation in syntax with ambition to globality
the structural nature and semantic interpretation of of nominal arguments and their importance for syntactic theory
Indicative assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Essay |
N/A | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Essay |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will meet individually with the module convenor at least two times after Week 6 and will discuss with him their work toward the writing of the final module essay
Indicative reading
1. Language as a natural object - Linguistics as a natural science
Cedric Boeckx, Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini
The Linguistic Review, 2005, 447-466
2. Toward a Unified Grammar of Reference,
Giuseppe Longobardi
Zeitschrift für Sprachwissenschaft 24, 2005, 5-44.
Various other readings to be assigned during the module