Syntax II

Objectives of the course

More syntax that goes into more in-depth analysis of various syntactic phenomena. Discusses the role of the two interfaces (phonetic form and logical form) and the current trends in syntax connecting the two interfaces. Goes into comparative studies of specific syntactic phenomena and gives detailed accounts of them.

Prerequisites

In order to successfully participate in in-class discussions and to follow the lectures, the student should take the introductory linguistic courses, in particular Syntax I. This course is related to other courses in the Language curriculum.

Assessment methods

Attending lectures, a term paper, active participation in in-class discussions.

Course contents

The course is about numerous topics that represent the core of generative syntax. Special emphasis is given to the study of movements, building of the syntactic structure, and on interfaces between syntax and semantics and phonology. As for syntactic movements, the central question is the nature of the cyclic movement, or more generally, the question of locality of movements, the motivation for A-movements and wh-movements. We will discuss data from various languages and see what we can learn from them while building linguistic theory.

Material discussed in lectures also forms the main part of recitations, where more time and care is devoted to the main issues. Emphasis is given to practical knowledge and actual analysis of language data.

Recommended reading

• Bošković, Željko. 2002. On multiple wh-fronting. Linguistic Inquiry 33: 351-383.
• Bošković, Željko. 2005. On the locality of Move and Agree: Eliminating the Activation Condition, Generalized EPP, Inverse Case Filter, and the Phase-Impenetrability Condition. UConn Occasional Papers in Linguistics 3.
• Chomsky, Noam. 1995. The minimalist program. MIT Press.
• Chomsky, Noam. 2000. Minimalist inquiries. In Step by step: Essays on minimalist syntax in honor of Howard Lasnik, ed. Roger Martin, David Michaels, and Juan Uriagereka, 89-155. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
• Chomsky, Noam. 2001. Derivation by phase. In Ken Hale: A life in language, ed. Michael Kenstowicz, 1-52. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press.
• Hornstein, Norbert, Jairo Nunes, and Kleanthes Grohmann. In press. Understanding Minimalism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
• Articles from various journals like Linguistic Inquiry, Natural Language and Linguistic Theory, Syntax, Lingua, The Linguistic Review, Natural Language Sematnics, Language, Linguistics, etc.