Undergraduate Course: Optimality Theory (LASC10054)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College |
College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
20 |
| Home subject area |
Language Sciences |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None |
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| Course description |
Optimality Theory ('OT') is the leading theoretical framework for current work in phonology, and is one of the main frameworks for current work in syntax. No-one interested in contemporary linguistics can afford not to know how OT works, and this course offers students a chance to get to grips with the framework, from a range of perspectives. OT offers new solutions to issues in linguistic analysis and a whole host of novel conceptual possibilities. The approach focuses on the idea that linguistic structures are determined only by constraints on surface forms, which are ranked in terms of their importance (in different ways in different languages). This course will introduce the central ideas of OT and will examine the implications of these ideas for the analysis of the phonology (and in some years syntax) of English and other languages. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Semester 2, Available to all students (SV1)
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WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | 15:00 - 17:00 | | | | | | Central | Lecture | | 1-11 | | | | 15:00 - 15:50 | |
| First Class |
Week 1, Monday, 15:00 - 17:00, Zone: Central. Room 1.17, Dugald Stewart Building |
| Additional information |
Class Location:
Room 1.17, Dugald Stewart Building |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
After completing this course, students will be able to:
- explain the basic premises and mechanisms of Optimality Theory (OT)
- analyse key linguistic phenomena using the formal devices of the theory
- understand major conceptual differences between OT and traditional approaches to linguistic analysis
- critically evaluate conceptual issues and empirical problems in OT |
Assessment Information
| This course will be assessed by two pieces of assessed work to be submitted during the course. |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Patrick Honeybone
Tel: (0131 6)51 1838
Email: patrick.honeybone@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Stephanie Fong
Tel:
Email: S.Fong@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 6:12 am
|
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