Course Description
This course is an introduction to language structure. Students will develop an appreciation of structural similarities among languages despite apparent linguistic diversity. A variety of language samples drawn from different languages, 3 from the Indo-European family and 3 from non-Indo-European families, will be analysed. Topics will include the sound system (speech sounds, articulation, patterning), word formation (inflection, derivation, composition), sentence formation (parts of speech, phrases, clauses, deep/surface structure, X-bar theory, movement) and word meaning (lexical semantic relations) and sentence meaning (thematic roles, discourse).
Course Content
1-Word Meaning
- Semantic relations among words: synonymy/antonymy, polysemy/homophony
- How these semantic relations affect sentences: paraphrase, entailment, contradiction
- Meaning: connotation/denotation, extension/intention
- Componential analysis, verb subcategorization (number and type of arguments a verb takes needed for syntax)
- Conceptual system: fuzzy concepts (ill-defined lexical concepts can be accommodated by Prototype Theory), metaphor, lexicalization
2-Word Sounds
- Phonetics: transcription, units of representation, sound system, articulation, articulatory processes (e.g., assimilation, deletion), production, supra-segmentals (e.g., (tone, stress)
- Phonology: sound patterns: segments, phonemes and allophones (minimal pairs, complementary distribution, contrast), syllable, syllable structure, features (e.g., +/-bilabial), rules (for the distribution of a phoneme) and derivations (of allophonic variations)
3-Word Formation and Word Structure (morpho-phonology, morphology, theoretical, generative grammar)
- Word structure: morphemes (bound and free, roots and affixes, type of affixes)
- Derivation (lexical concepts-e.g., -ly, the suffix deriving adjectives from nouns) and inflection (grammatical concepts –e.g., the -ed past tense marker)
- Inflection versus derivation
- Compounding, endocentric/exocentric compounds
- Morphological processes (e.g., affixation, blending may involve a change in sound as well as in morphological structure)
4-Phrase Structure (morpho-syntax, syntax) (theoretical, generative grammar)
- Word categories (parts of speech)
- Phrases structure: X-bar theory: heads, specifiers, complements
- Minimalist syntax: merge operation
- Tests for phrase structure
5-Clauses
- Complement clauses
- Movement (in questions) + landing site (where the moved word goes to)
- Deep and surface structure
- Universal grammar and parametric variations
- Other (modifiers, relative clauses, passives, VP internal subject)
6-Sentence meaning (semantics)
- Syntax and sentence interpretation (generative grammar)
- Structural ambiguity
- Thematic roles (e.g., agent), thematic role assignment
- Binding theory (interpretation of pronouns, principles A, B and C)
- Other factors in sentence interpretation
- Role of beliefs and attitudes, presupposition, setting
- Discourse and conversational maxims (relevance, quality, quantity, manner)
Learning Activities
Lectures, in-class tutorials, group work, group discussions, problem solving, data analysis, short reports by students
Means of Assessment
A typical assessment would include the following elements:
- Attendance/participation/preparation 15%
- Short oral reports as part of in class discussions 25%
- 4 Assignments at 5% each (data analysis, problem solving) 20%
- 4 exams 20%
- Portfolio 5% (to accompany the poster, as a way of keeping track of the progress)
- Poster presentation 15% (final work)
(Note: no assignment will be more than 20%)
Learning Outcomes
Students will develop an appreciation of linguistic diversity by analyzing a variety of language samples drawn from different languages, Indo-European and non-Indo-European.
By the end of term, the successful student will:
- understand the principles of the structural system underlying human language (a good knowledge of grammar in general that can be applied to analyze any language and a good theoretical foundation if the student is to continue in linguistics)
- develop the ability to analyze and describe language samples
- appreciate linguistic diversity (be aware of the different ways a concept can be structurally encoded in languages)
- better appreciate the similarities and differences between languages and language families
Textbook Materials
A current edition of a textbook such as the following:
O’Grady, W. & Archibald, J. (eds). Contemporary Linguistic Analysis. Toronto: Pearson Education Canada, Inc.