Postgraduate Course: Introduction to Syntax (LASC11085)
Course Outline
School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
Summary | An introduction to generative syntax. Includes study of major syntactic phenomena of English; some comparison also with other languages; and instruction and practice in analysis and argumentation. |
Course description |
The overall aim of this module is to provide an introduction to generative syntax. The main objectives are to provide students with:
- an overview of the kind of things which need to be explained by a syntactic theory
- an overview of analyses which have been developed to explain them
- practice in analysing data in terms of core syntactic concepts such as constituency, selection, movement
In order to understand the core concepts in syntax and how they relate to actual data it is necessary to practise analysis and argumentation from the start. With this in mind, the course is set up so that time is divided between initial presentation of material, working through questions relating to that material, and discussion of issues arising from that engagement with the material.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 18,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
80 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
Assignment 1: 30%
Assignment 2: 70% |
Feedback |
Individual and group feedback on work during the course. |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- understand basic issues in current theoretical syntax
- accurately describe and analyse primary data
- identify and solve problems
- independently formulate and test hypotheses
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Reading List
Beatrice Santorini & Anthony Kroch: The syntax of natural language: An online introduction. Selected chapters, selection detailed on Learn.
Video presentations: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNRhI4Cc_QmvBzEBJFiOUfmMR4ew9TFwO |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Analytical thinking; logical argumentation; clarity of presentation. |
Keywords | syntax,generative syntax,syntactic phenomena,analysis,argumentation |
Contacts
Course organiser | Prof Caroline Heycock
Tel: (0131 6)51 1999
Email: Caroline.Heycock@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Toni Noble
Tel: (0131 6)51 3188
Email: Toni.noble@ed.ac.uk |
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