In this seminar we will investigate the underlying grammatical system that governs the sentence structure of any human language including English. Syntax is an intricate field of study which is often associated with generative grammar and stochastic theories. However, syntax is studied in a variety of different frameworks, including functionalist approaches.
In this course, you will get an overview of the different linguistic methods used to deal with syntax and learn to perform your own analyses. We will also leave our writing desks, metaphorically speaking, to get the wider picture. How does the syntax of English compare to that of other languages? How do dialects differ from Standard English? How is syntax affected by the technological innovations of computer-mediated communication? And what happens in our brains when we encode and decode the sentences we say and hear? With the necessary background knowledge and plenty of examples this course will help you understand that syntax is not a theoretical construct but an indispensable feature of language in use.
Recommended preparation
Miller, Jim. 2002. An Introduction to English Syntax. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. |
