Syntax

obligatory courses

The lecture introduces the basic syntactic categories, constituency tests and transformational processes (passivization raising, wh-movement) within the generative paradigm. It also looks at first language acquisition, Universal Grammar, parametrization, the composition of the mental lexicon and major linguistic dichotomies ( (prescriptive vs. descriptive grammar, performance vs. competence, I-language vs. E-language, grammaticality vs. acceptability, rule-based creativity vs. formulaic patterned speech, acquisition vs. learning).

This is a one-semester lecture for first-year students at the English Institute with a cumulative end-of-term exam. The students are introduced to the basic syntactic categories (word-level and phrase level categories), constituency tests and major processes, which characterize modern English use. Aspects of formal syntax are also addressed within the generative paradigm. These include first language acquisition, Universal Grammar, parametrization and transformational processes (passivization and raising as instances of move-alpha, wh-movement). Whenever appropriate, references to the competing cognitive account will also be made. Major linguistic dichotomies are discussed and their consequences explored (prescriptive vs. descriptive grammar, performance vs. competence, I-language vs. E-language, grammaticality vs. acceptability, rule-based creativity vs. formulaic patterned speech, acquisition vs. learning). The composition of the mental lexicon is discussed, with arguments for and against the strong lexicalist position.

Carnie, Andrew 2002. Syntax. A generative introduction. Malden: Blackwell Publishers.

Haegeman, Liliane and Jacqueline Gueron 2006. English grammar. A generative perspective. Malden: Blackwell Publishing.

Huddleston, Rodney. 1995. English grammar. An outline. Cambridge: CUP.

Moravcsik, Edith 2006. An introduction to syntactic theory. London: Continuum.

Payne, Thomas 2006. Exploring language structure. A student's guide. Cambridge: CUP.

Radford, Andrew 1989. Transformational grammar. A first course. Cambridge: CUP.

Witkoś, Jacek 2004. Movement rules. Foundations of GB syntax of English. Poznań; Wydawnictwo Poznańskie.

Learning outcomes

A) KNOWLEDGE (cognitive domain)

On completing the course, students

- know the basic mechanisms of syntactic analysis and understand the required terminology

- understand the methodology of syntactic and morpho-syntactic research into English as a first or second language

- are acquainted with the key assumptions of present-day descriptive and applied syntax

- know the mechanics of research in the domain of formal syntax and appreciate its impact on EFL methodology

B) SKILLS (psychomotor domain)

On completing the course, students can

- relate the basic patterns of pedagogical grammar to the theoretical models proposed in the generative framework

- identify syntactic regularities and instances of their violations in everyday communication, both native and non-native

- design their own research tasks: from formulating the problem to interpreting the data

C) ATTITUDES (affective domain)

On completing the course, students perceive and appreciate

- communication as a socially driven and culture-dependent phenomenon

- the usefulness of grammatical and lexical competences in establishing social roles

- the equidistance principle in the study of language varieties (descriptive vs. prescriptive grammar)