Mersin University
ENGLISH LINGUISTICS PROGRAM
COURSE OUTLINE
| COURSE INFORMATION | |
| Year | 2011-2012 |
| Semester | FALL |
| Course Code | İDB 317 |
| Course Title | SYNTAX I |
| Instructor | Dr. Mustafa Aksan |
| Office Hours | Mon. 09.00-10.00 |
| OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE COURSE | |
| The main objective of course is to develop an understanding of language as a “natural object”. Language as “internalized” rather than “externalized” object; universal grammar, principles and parameters of universal grammar, the “units” of language and the organization and working of the rules, phrases and their internal structure. | |
| WEEKLY TOPICS | ||
| DATE | TOPIC | ASSIGNMENT/READING |
| 1. Sep.17-18 | Introduction to the course, basics of structure | Grammatical Competence |
| 2. Sep.24-25 | Goal of syntactic theory, grammatical competence, discovery of rules, constraints and universal grammar. | Radford Chp.1 Radford Part 2 |
| 3. Oct. 01-02 | Grammar, acceptability, semantics vs. pragmatics | Chp.1. |
| 4. Oct. 08-09 | Structure, word and phrase level categories, distribution, testing the structure. | Chp.2. |
| 5. Oct. 15-16 | Holiday | |
| 6. Oct. 22-23 | Phrase markers, internal structure of phrases. | Chp.3. |
| 7. Oct. 30 | Phrase markers, internal structure of phrases. | Chp.3. |
| 8. Nov.05-06 | Phrase markers, internal structure of phrases.cont | Chp.3. |
| 9. Nov.12-13 | MID-TERM | MID-TERM |
| 10.Nov.19-20 | Categories, c-command, constraints. | Chp.3. |
| 11. Nov.26-27 | Generating phrase markers, conflating categories. | Chp.3. |
| 12. Dec. 03-04 | Introduction to X-bar syntax | Chp.4. |
| 13. Dec. 10-11 | Noun phrases and internal organization of a noun phrase. | Chp.4. |
| 14. Dec. 17-18 | VP, AP, and PP, complements and adjuncts. | Chp.5. |
| 15. Dec. 24-25 | Review of the course | Constituency |
| FINAL | FINAL |
| REFERENCES | |
| Textbook(s) | Radford, A. 1988/1992. Transformational grammar. Cambridge: CUP. |
| Supplementary Reading(s) | |
| GRADING |
% |
% |
Total |
| Mid-Term | 40 |
|
40 |
| Final | 60 |
|
60 |
As dictated by the university regulations. You may consult to relevant texts.
| STUDENT REQUIREMENTS |
|
|
|
- It is the student’s responsibility to record and follow his own attendance. (For the percentages, refer to the University’s Education Guide.)
- Students should not enter the classroom after the class has been started.
- Students who do not bring their course materials are not allowed to enter the class.
- Cell phones should be turned off, or set to vibrate for emergency during the class. Camera, tape or video recording is not allowed if not stated otherwise.
- Assignments should be prepared in accordance with the Department’s Assignment, Research Paper and Thesis (A.R.T.) Preparation Guide.(can be accessed from the department’s site; http:www.mersindilbilim.info)
- It is the student’s responsibility to practice the highest standards of academic honesty. Cheating, plagiarism and any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
- Assignments submitted later than the indicated dates are not accepted. Deadlines should strictly be followed.
- It is the student’s responsibility to obtain missed information from another student, not from the instructor.