Advanced English Syntax

1. Understand Chomsky's Transformational Generative Grammar
2. Apply modifications to the original formulation in syntactic analysis
3. Differentiate between linguistic and non-linguistic knowledge
4. Apply phrase structure rules and transformational rules
5. Analyze sentence structures to identify different phrase and clause types
6. Understand theta theory and case theory

13 weeks, about 26 hours in total. Yours will differ.

1. Week 1Module 1: Chomsky's Universal Grammar

   • Unit 1: Aspects of the Knowledge of Language · 2 hours

     Distinguish between linguistic and non-linguistic knowledge.. Understand the concepts of competence and performance.. Define acceptability and grammaticality.. Analyze sentence examples to identify different types of linguistic knowledge..

2. Week 2Module 1: Chomsky's Universal Grammar

   • Unit 2: Aspects of Parametric Variations · 2 hours

     Explain parametric variation.. Identify sound and syntactic variations across languages.. Compare English word order with other languages like Igbo and Japanese.. Analyze how languages vary in their sound systems and syntactic structures..

3. Week 3Module 1: Chomsky's Universal Grammar

   • Unit 3: Rules and Notational Conventions · 2 hours

     Define syntactic rules and their application in language analysis.. Differentiate between Phrase Structure and Transformational rules.. Apply notational conventions in the Transformational Generative model.. Practice generating sentences using Phrase Structure rules..

4. Week 4Module 1: Chomsky's Universal Grammar

   • Unit 4: English Phrase Structure Rules · 2 hours

     Identify English phrase structure rules.. Apply phrase structure rules to derive English sentence structure.. Understand dominance relations and lexical insertion.. Practice drawing tree diagrams for English sentences..

5. Week 5Module 2: The Organization of the Syntax of English

   • Unit 1: Lexical Categories · 2 hours

     Define lexical categories and their representation in language analysis.. Identify lexical categories in English sentences.. Explain how lexical categories project phrasal categories.. Analyze the constituent structure of phrases using tree diagrams..

6. Week 6Module 2: The Organization of the Syntax of English

   • Unit 2: Phrasal Categories via Merger Operations · 2 hours

     Explain phrasal categories and their constitution.. Describe noun phrases and verb phrases.. Understand merger operations and their role in forming phrases.. Practice representing phrasal categories in phrase markers..

7. Week 7Module 2: The Organization of the Syntax of English

   • Unit 3: Phrase and Clause Types · 2 hours

     Differentiate between prepositional, adjectival, and adverbial phrases.. Distinguish between independent and subordinate clauses.. Identify noun, adjectival, and adverbial clauses.. Analyze sentence structures to identify different phrase and clause types..

8. Week 8Module 3: Formalising Modules of Grammar

   • Unit 1: Projections, X-bar, Theta and Case Theories · 2 hours

     Define projections and their use in syntactic analysis.. Explain X-bar theory and its components.. Understand theta theory and case theory.. Apply these principles in syntactic analysis..

9. Week 9Module 3: Formalising Modules of Grammar

   • Unit 2: Government, Binding and Bounding Theories · 2 hours

     Explain government theory and its operations.. Understand binding theory and its principles.. Describe bounding theory and its restrictions.. Analyze sentences to identify government, binding, and bounding relations..

10. Week 10Module 3: Formalising Modules of Grammar

    • Unit 3: The D-Structure · 2 hours

      Define the D-structure and its role in syntactic analysis.. Explain the information represented at the D-structure level.. Analyze how transformations modify the D-structure.. Compare D-structure with S-structure..

11. Week 11Module 4: Syntactic Processes and Relations

    • Unit 1: NP Movement Structures · 2 hours

      Explain NP movement and its operations.. Describe NP movement in passive constructions.. Understand NP movement in raising constructions.. Practice generating phrase markers for NP movement structures..

12. Week 12Module 4: Syntactic Processes and Relations

    • Unit 2: WH Movement Structures · 2 hours

      Describe WH-movement and its operations.. Explain adjunct movement.. Understand WH-movement and subject NP.. Analyze relativization constructions..

13. Week 13Module 4: Syntactic Processes and Relations

    • Unit 3: Empty Categories · 2 hours

      Define empty categories and their types.. Explain empty INFL, Pro, extraction-motivated empty categories, and covert complements.. Analyze syntactic structures with empty categories.. Understand the arguments supporting the existence of empty categories..