Universals & Variation in Syntactic Systems - LAN00084H
- Department: Language and Linguistic Science
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
-
Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2025-26
Module summary
This module pushes forward and integrates your knowledge of syntax and semantics by examining the way semantics and syntax interact and constrain one another’s operations.
Related modules
Pre-requisite modules
Additional information
With respect to pre-requisites the following modules are equivalent.
Second year modules
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Intermediate Syntax, Aspects of a Theory of Syntax
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 1 2024-25 |
Module aims
The aims of this module are:
- To familiarise you with the current state of minimalist theory concerning Universal Grammar and grammatical variation.
- To address issues regarding the architecture of the grammar from the point of view of parametric variation..
- To consider a range of phenomena in terms of variation in syntactic processes and properties
- To develop your ability to deal with higher complexity data and issues and develop a theoretically informed understanding of the questions and challenges that they raise.
- To develop specific research and study skills linked to abstract theoretical work (i.e. discover the connectedness of seemingly disparate ideas)
- To give you an opportunity to experience work at the forefront of current understanding
Module learning outcomes
- Select and apply appropriate syntactic and semantic diagnostics to a wide range of constructions
- Synthesise different aspects of your knowledge about structural properties and the way they vary
- Identify key patterns in data sets and express their distribution in terms of key syntactic concepts of Universal Grammar, Parameter setting and parametric hierarchies.
- Formulate and explicitly state intricate generalisations about relevant phenomena.
By the end of the module you should be able to do the following:
- Show familiarity with current proposals in generative syntax
- Fit your descriptive knowledge within a larger theoretical framework
- Formulate theoretical arguments and follow them through.
- Show significant knowledge of the interplay between Universality and variation in a restricted framework
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 65.0 |
| Essay/coursework | 35.0 |
Special assessment rules
None
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 65.0 |
| Essay/coursework | 35.0 |
Module feedback
One-to-one feedback after presentation/discussion.
For submitted assessments, you will receive individual written feedback within the university mandated time limit.
Indicative reading
Roberts, I. (2019). Parameter hierarchies and universal grammar. Oxford University Press.