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Elective: Morphological Theory

Vak
2010-2011

Admission requirements

Basic knowledge of linguistics and linguistic theory (in particular phonology and syntax).

Description

This course will be divided into three parts:

Part 1. A bird’s eye overview of present-day morphological theory by working through a recent textbook, Geert Booij’s The Grammar of Words (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007), in order to create a common base of morphological knowledge.

Part 2. Discussion of a number of theoretical issues in more detail on the basis of some recent articles from the international literature. The possible topics, chosen in consultation with the participants are:

  • different models of morphological knowledge (realizational morphology; distributed morphology, morphology in an Simple Syntax model, construction morphology);

  • the relative autonomy of morphology (‘morphology by itself’) – the architecture of the grammar;

  • lexical integrity;

  • the relation between morphology and the lexicon;

  • construction-dependent morphology;

  • psycholinguistic modeling of morphological knowledge

Part 3. Students will give presentations about one of these topics linked to empirical data from one or more of the languages that they study.

Course objectives

The aim of this course is to give the students an up-to-date knowledge of present-day theoretical issues in morphological theory and analysis.
Students will acquire a good overview of present-day issues in morphological theories, and the architecture of the grammar, and learn how the analysis of morphological phenomena in specific languages can be used in discussing these issues.

Timetable

Check the website of the Linguistics Department for the Lecture timetable.

Mode of instruction

Seminar, including presentations by students.

Assessment method

  • presentation during the seminar

  • essay on the topic of the presentation

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for this course.

Reading list

  • Geert Booij (2007) The Grammar of Words, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2nd edition.

  • A number of articles (to be announced later, will be made available through the course site).

Registration

Exchange and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.

After application students can register for courses en exams through uSis.

Contact information

Further information can be obtained from the Prof. dr. G.E. Booij