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This course is an introduction to universal grammar, language universals, and linguistic typology. In the first part of the course, we will focus on general questions: (i) what counts as a possible (and impossible) human language?, (ii) what is universal and what is subject to crosslinguistic variation?, (iii) how can we explain the lack of certain linguistic patterns or certain language types? In the second part of the course, we will focus on specific linguistic phenomena and examine them from a crosslinguistic perspective.
Textbook: Comrie, Bernard (1989). Language universals and linguistic typology: Syntax and morphology (2nd edition). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
E-Post: In order to facilitate discussion outside of class, I have established the E-Post message board for this class. Take advantage of this useful resource.
In addition to the textbook, we will discuss other readings (book chapters and/or journal articles). The readings marked with an asterisk are optional (yet highly recommended). Since we will discuss in class the readings assigned for that day, you are expected to read the assigned papers before the class in which they will be discussed.
Course Outline and Readings (for more details, see the syllabus) |
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LING 480: Language Universals |
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Week |
Date |
Topic |
Readings |
Hw |
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I |
W 9/28 |
Introduction(s). Various approaches to language universals and language typology
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Comrie: Chapter 1 (pp. 1-29) |
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II |
M 10/3 |
Epun: an example of an impossible language. (Piraha: an example of a ‘surprising’ language) |
Smith, The Mind of the Savant. pp 139-155. * Everett, Dan. Cultural Constraints on Grammar and Cognition in Pirahã: Another Look at the Design Features of Human Language. Linguistic Murder Mystery: part 1
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W 10/5 |
Endangered Languages
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III |
M 10/10 |
Library Orientation (we meet in the Allen library auditorium) |
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W 10/12 |
Genetic Language Classification Determining a Language Sample
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Comrie, B., Languages of the World. In the Handbook of Syntactic Theory. |
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IV |
M 10/17 |
Morphological Typology
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Comrie: Chapter 2 (pp. 33-54) * Nichols, Johanna. 1986. Head-marking and dependent-marking grammar. Language 62:56-119. Greenberg, Joseph H. (1963). Some universals of grammar with particular reference to the order of meaningful elements (pp. 92-104 ) |
HW 1 due |
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W 10/19 |
A case study in polysynthesis: Mohawk
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Baker, M. 2001. Baking a Polysynthetic Language In The Atoms of Language. |
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V |
M 10/24 |
Word Order |
Linguistic Murder Mystery: part 4 Comrie, B., Chapter 4 Greenberg, Joseph H. (1963). Some universals of grammar with particular reference to the order of meaningful elements (pp. 73-91) |
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W 10/26 |
Word Order
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Dryer, Mathew S. (1992). The Greenbergian word order correlations. In Language 68:81–138. |
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VI |
M 10/31 |
Word Order in a ‘New’ Language
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Sandler, W., I. Meir, C. Padden, and M. Aronoff. The emergence of grammar: systematic structure in a new language |
HW 2 due |
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W 11/2 |
Questions |
* Cheng, L. 1991. On the Typology of Wh-Questions. Chapters 2 and 3. |
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VII |
M 11/7 |
Questions Continued |
* Dayal, Veneeta. 2003. Multiple Wh questions. In the Blackwell Companion to Syntax. |
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W 11/9 |
Relative Clauses |
Comrie, B. Chapter 7. Andrews, Avery. (to appear). Relative Clauses. In Language Typology and Syntactic Description. |
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VIII |
M 11/14 |
Relative Clauses |
* Keenan, E., and B. Comrie. 1977. Noun phrase accessibility and universal grammar, Linguistic Inquiry 8:63-99. |
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W 11/16 |
More on Relative Clauses and Wh-Questions |
HW 3 due |
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IX |
M 11/21 |
Tense, Aspect, and Mood
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Whaley, L. 1997. Introduction to Typology. Chapter 12 and Chapter 13. |
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W 11/23 |
Case Marking |
Comrie, B. Chapters 5&6 |
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X |
M 11/28 |
Case Marking |
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W 11/30 |
Animacy |
Comrie, B. Chapter 9 |
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XI |
M 12/5 |
Presentation Session |
No readings |
HW 4 due |
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W 12/7 |
Poster Session
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No readings |
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W 12/14 |
FINAL PAPERS DUE |
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