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ENG821Arts3 Unitsadvanced

ADVANCED SYNTAX

This course explores advanced syntax, focusing on recent innovations in generative syntax and the role of meaning in syntactic computation. It comprises twelve study units divided into four modules. The course enhances students' understanding of interfaces in syntax, exposing them to meaning treatment within transformational generative grammar. Students will explore morphological and syntactic concepts, relating them to meaning-making through grammatical judgment and critical analysis of sentences.

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156h
Study Time
13
Weeks
12h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
SyntaxSemanticsMorphologyMinimalist ProgramLogical Form

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Advanced Level
For experienced practitioners
90%
advanced
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Form-Meaning Relationship

2

Sentence, Utterance, and Proposition

3

Morphosyntax

4

Primitives of Syntax

5

Feature Valuation

6

Semantic Roles

7

Logical Form

8

Binding Relations

9

Scope and Anaphora

10

Scope Ambiguity

11

Determiner Phrases

Total Topics11 topics

Requirements

Knowledge and skills recommended for success

Undergraduate degree in Linguistics or related field

Basic knowledge of syntax and semantics

💡 Don't have all requirements? Don't worry! Many students successfully complete this course with basic preparation and dedication.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

tutor-marked assessments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Linguist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Syntax Researcher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Semantic Analyst

Apply your skills in this growing field

Computational Linguist

Apply your skills in this growing field

Language Teacher

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

Natural Language ProcessingArtificial IntelligenceSpeech RecognitionMachine TranslationLinguistic Research

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Structure and Meaning

7h

Unit 1: Form-Meaning Relationship

7 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Understanding the distinction between lexical and functional categories.
  • •Analyze examples of determiners, inflections, and complementizers.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment questions.
Week
2

Module 1: Structure and Meaning

7h

Unit 2: Sentence, Utterance and Proposition

7 study hours
  • •Differentiate between sentence, utterance, and proposition.
  • •Identify underlying propositions in sentences.
  • •Complete Tutor-Marked Assignment questions.
Week
3

Module 2: Morphology-Syntax Interface

10h

Unit 1: Morphosyntax

5 study hours
  • •Discuss the concept of morphosyntax.
  • •Identify the relationship between morphology and syntax.
  • •Analyze how morphological and syntactic features cooperate in structure computation.

Unit 2: The Primitives of Syntax

5 study hours
  • •Discuss the primitives of syntax, including abstract and root morphemes.
  • •Explain the roles of functional heads in syntactic derivation.
  • •Analyze how morphology supplies phonological features to abstract morphemes.
Week
4

Module 2: Morphology-Syntax Interface

10h

Unit 3: Feature Valuation in Computation

10 study hours
  • •Identify the processes of human language computation.
  • •Discuss the importance of grammatical and phonetic features.
  • •Explain the role of meaning in the Principle of Full Interpretation (PFI).
Week
5

Module 3: Interpreting Syntactic Constituents

7h

Unit 1: Semantic Roles in Syntactic Structures

7 study hours
  • •Examine the relationship between syntax and meaning.
  • •Identify the difference between theta role and semantic role.
  • •Distinguish between D-Structure and S-structure.
Week
6

Module 3: Interpreting Syntactic Constituents

7h

Unit 2: Logical Form

7 study hours
  • •Define logical form.
  • •Explain how meaning is treated in different models of transformational grammar.
  • •Discuss the emergence of Logical Form and its place in syntax.
Week
7

Module 3: Interpreting Syntactic Constituents

10h

Unit 3: Null Constituents in the Minimalist Program

10 study hours
  • •Identify null elements in minimalist syntax.
  • •Discuss the nature and types of null constituents in English.
  • •Analyze examples of null subjects, auxiliaries, and complements.
Week
8

Module 3: Interpreting Syntactic Constituents

10h

Unit 4: Binding Relations in the Minimalist Program

10 study hours
  • •Explain the phenomenon of binding.
  • •Discuss the place of binding theory in the Minimalist Program.
  • •State the conditions for binding in the Minimalist Program.
Week
9

Module 4: Syntactic and Semantic Scope

7h

Unit 1: Scope and Anaphora in Minimalist Program

7 study hours
  • •Define anaphora and scope.
  • •Identify scope-bearing elements.
  • •Account for possible interpretations of ambiguous sentences.
Week
10

Module 4: Syntactic and Semantic Scope

10h

Unit 2: Scope Ambiguity

10 study hours
  • •Distinguish between types of ambiguity.
  • •Understand the concept of semantic scope and c-command in relation to ambiguity.
  • •Analyze ambiguous structures perfectly.
Week
11

Module 4: Syntactic and Semantic Scope

10h

Unit 3: Semantic Scope of Determiner Phrases

10 study hours
  • •Understand the concept of Determiner Phrases (DPs).
  • •Identify the possible elements in the modification of DPs.
  • •Explain quantificational DPs and their semantic scope.
Week
12

Revision

7h

Review: Modules 1 & 2

7 study hours
  • •Review key concepts from Modules 1 and 2.
  • •Practice grammatical judgment of sentences.
  • •Prepare for Tutor-Marked Assignments.
Week
13

Revision

7h

Review: Modules 3 & 4

7 study hours
  • •Review key concepts from Modules 3 and 4.
  • •Practice sentence generation and analysis.
  • •Final preparation for examinations.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking modules and units.

2

Practice sentence generation and analysis.

3

Review key concepts and definitions.

4

Focus on understanding the relationships between syntax and semantics.

5

Practice identifying scope-bearing elements and resolving ambiguities.

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