Prospectus

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Advanced Syntax 2

Course
2019-2020

Admission requirements

Students must have basic knowledge of GB or Minimalist syntax (e.g., (the equivalent of) syntax 1 and syntax 2 in the Leiden BA linguistics program). They must have completed the MA course Advanced Syntax I.

Description

This course introduces students to the current state of research on ellipsis, in English and other languages (among others Dutch, Hungarian, Spanish). The topics will include: identifying missing constituents, elliptical phenomena (sluicing, fragments, gapping, VP ellipsis, V-stranding ellipsis, noun ellipsis), theories of ellipsis, theories of licensing ellipsis, cross-linguistic variation in ellipsis. The students present one research article to the class and they prepare small homework assignments.

Course objectives

  1. Students understand and can work with the notions which are fundamental to the Minimalist framework of syntax in the domain of ellipsis.
  2. Students can use argumentation methods common in syntactic theory.
  3. Students are capable of discussing linguistic phenomena using the tools within the Minimalist Program.
  4. Students are able to carry out research on ellipsis and report about it in the form of a research paper.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the MA Linguistics website

Mode of instruction

  • Seminar

Course Load

Total course load 5 EC x 28 hours = 140 hours

  • Lectures: 6 weeks à 4 hrs = 24 hours

  • Study of compulsory literature: 6 x 10 = 60 hours

  • Presentation: 6 hours

  • Assignments and term paper: 50 hours

Assessment method

Assessment and Weighing

  • Class presentation: 20%

  • Research paper: 80%
    Compensation possible, but the short paper/essay must be awarded with a 5.5 or higher.

Resit

The essay can be redone in case of a “fail”.

Inspection and feedback

Students are entitled to view their marked examination within a period of 30 days, following publication of the results of a written examination.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for the dissemination of all sorts of information concerning this course, and, more generally, to communicate with the students.

Reading list

Readings for the course time will be announced through Blackboard as we go along.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available on the website

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable

Contact

Please contact Student administration van Eyckhof for questions.

The coordinator of studies is Else van Dijk