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Introduction to English Syntax
The main goal of this seminar is to bring together the core areas of linguisticresearch with the main aim of showinghow the individual components worktogether when people use language to communicate.
The seminar concentrates on three areas. 1. Approaches to the grammar of English2. Structure of sentences3. Movements4. Interfaces of syntax
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Introduction to English Syntax
We will discuss different approaches to the study of language (traditional, formal, cognitive, minimalist) and relate them to different resulting grammars (types of theoretical adequacies). In doing this, wewill concentrate on the structural aspectsof meaning with a special emphasis on theformation and interpretation of words(morphology), phrases, sentences(syntax) and their interaction at theinterfaces.
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Introduction to English Syntax
1 23-10-06 Introduction: English Syntax Ex. 1.1,
2 30-10-06 Ch. 1: Grammar; Ch. 2: Words Ex. 2.1, 2.2
3 06-11-06 Ch. 2: cont. Ex. 3.1, 3.2
4 13-11-06 Ch. 3: Structure Ex. 4.1, 4.2
5 20-11-06 Ch. 4: Null Constituents Ex. 5.1, 5.2
6 27-11-06 Revision t.b.a
7 04-12-06 Ch. 5: Head Movement Ex. 6.1, 6.2
8 11-12-05 Ch. 6: Wh-Movement Ex. 2,1,4
9 19-12-05 Ch. 6: cont.
Schedule:
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Introduction to English Syntax
10 08-01-07 Revision
11 15-01-07 Ch. 7: A-movement Ex. 7.1, 7.2
12 22-01-07 Ch7: cont., Ch. 8: Agreement, Case, Movement Ex. 8.1, 8.2
13 29-01-07 Revision and Exam prep.
14 05-02-07 Final Exam (11:45 – 14:00)
15 13-02-06
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Introduction to English Syntax
Course Book:
Syntax:
Radford, Andrew (2004) English Syntax: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Additional Resources:
Radford, Andrew; Atkinson Martin; Britain, David; Clahsen, Harald; Spencer, Andrew (1999) Linguistics: An Introduction Cambridge : Cambridge University Press.
Radford, Andrew (2004) Minimalist Syntax: Exploring the Structure of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
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Introduction to English Linguistics
Instructor: Susanne Winkler
Main Contact:E-mail: [email protected]
Office Hours: - Monday, Thursday 4 pm- right after the seminar, R. 464- or by appointment
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Introduction to English Linguistics
Tutor: Katharina SchmehEmail: [email protected]
Tutorial: Tuesday, 18-20, R. 306mandatory
First Tutorial: Tuesday, 24th of October
Prepare exercise: 1.1 in Radford (2004)Come prepared to the tutorial.
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What is linguistics?
The study of language is the study of one aspect of human psychology, that is the human mind.
Introduction to English Syntax
Definition: Linguistics is the science of natural (i.e. human) language.
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What do we do when we study a language?
Tree basic questions:
1. What constitutes knowledge of language?
2. How is knowledge of language acquired?
3. How is knowledge of language put to use?
The seminar addresses the first question in depth. The second question will be taken up in the exercises.
Introduction to English Syntax
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Introduction to English Syntax
Universal LanguageComparative Linguistics
Language Typology
Phonology
Pragmatics
Syntax Semantics
Morphology
Phonetics
The Learner
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The Learner: First Language Acquisition
Second Language Acquisition
The child is playing the language-game.
(Wittgenstein)
The child automatically engages in communication
– verbal and nonverbal.
Introduction to English Syntax
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Introduction to English Syntax
Universal LanguageComparative Linguistics
Language Typology
Phonology
Pragmatics
Syntax Semantics
Morphology
Phonetics
Discourse
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First Orientation: What’s in a language?
Discourse
Linguistic Knowledge
World Knowledge
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First Orientation: What’s in a language?
Do you have a watch?
No, sorry. But I think it’s about six.
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First Orientation: What’s in a language?
Do you smoke?
No thanks.
Oh, I wasn’t offering. I just wanted to know if you did.
Harry Kemelman, Sunday the Rabbi stayed home.
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First Orientation: What’s in a language?
Discourse
Linguistic Knowledge
World Knowledge
Communicative situation
Communicative intentions
Social Interaction
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The language learner’s view:What’s in a language?
1. Sounds (Phonetics/Phonology and Meaning)
2. Words (Morphology and Meaning)
3. Sentences (Syntax and Meaning)
4. Utterances (Discourse and Meaning)
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Slips of the Tongue:What are they and what can they tell us?
When you say something by accident -something which you did not mean or plan to say - you have made a slip of the tongue.
Introduction to English Syntax
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Slips of the Tongue:What can they tell us?
Slips of the tongue can provide an insight intolanguage planning and production.
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Slip of the Tongue 01: Phonetics
"What does it mean when 25 percent of our childrenin Harlem have asthma because of hair pollution? We can do better. America can do better. And helpis on the way." (John Kerry)
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Phonetics
Definition:
The study of the inventory and structure of the sounds of language.
(O‘Grady et al.)
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Phonology
Definition:
The component of a grammar made up of the elements and principles that determinehow sounds pattern in a language.
(O‘Grady et al.)
Introduction to English Syntax
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Introduction to English Syntax
Phonetics and Phonology:
Dretzke, B. (1998) Modern British and American English Pronunciation. UTB.
Stevenson, J. (2002) The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Philosophy (2nd Edition). Alpha Books.
*O’Grady, W. et al. Contemporary Linguistics: An Introduction. Longman Press: Chapters 2 & 3.
Roach, P (ed.), et al. (2003) Daniel Jones English Pronouncing Dictionary (16th Edition). Klett.
Robins, H. (1997) A Short History of Linguistics (4th Edition). Longman Press.
*Yule, G. (1996) The Study of Language (2nd Edition). Cambridge University Press. Chapters 5 & 6.
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Slip of the Tongue 02:Morphology or Semantics?
"...but to strengthen American forces that arenow overstretched, overextended, and underpressure, we will double our special forces to conduct terrorist operations...." (John Kerry)
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Q1: What did Kerry intend to say?
Introduction to English Linguistics
Q2: How do we know?
Q3: How can we characterize anti- ?
Q4: Where does anti- occur?Q5: What does anti- mean?
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The morpheme anti:
- anti- is a prefix;
- anti- can be prefixed to both nouns (anti-missile, anti-matter) and adjectives (anti-social);
- anti- means “being not in favor of”;
- anti-terrorist attacks: means “being not in favor of terrorist attacks”.
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Morphology
Definition:
The system of categories and rules involvedin word formation and interpretation.
(O‘Grady et al.)
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Semantics
Definition:
The study of meaning in human language.
(O‘Grady et al.)
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Slip of the Tongue 03:Semantics or Logic?
„We are here 282 years after right here in Boston we fought to establish the freedoms of America." (Rev. Al Sharpton)
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Or perhaps Morphology?
Note: 2004-1776 = 228
Two-hundred-and-twenty-eight vs.
Two-hundred-and-eighty-two
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Syntax:
Definition:
The system of rules and categories thatunderlies sentence formation in human language.
(O‘Grady et al.)
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Information Packaging 04:Complex Syntax - Complex Meaning?
“Let's respect one another.
And let's never misuse for political purposesthe most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States.”(John Kerry)
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Claim: English Word Order is SVO (T/F?)
S V OWe should respect one another.
V (S) V O
Let 's respect one another.
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Claim: English Complement Order is Direct Object before Prepositional Phrase (T/F?)
And let's never misusethe most precious document in American history, the Constitution of the United States
Introduction to English Linguistics
[for political purposes]
[for political purposes]
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Slip of the Tongue 05:
Competence vs. Performance
George W. Bush:
Profile:
George Walker Bush was born in New Haven, Connecticut. He grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas.
Bush was educated at Phillips Academy (Andover), (September 1961 - 1964) and at Yale University, CT.
Nonstandard English
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Pragmatics:
Definition:
The study of the relations between languageand context that are basic to an account of language understanding.
(Levinson 1983, 21)
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“I think I know a great leader when I see one –
Introduction to English Linguistics
Information Packaging 05:
Syntax, Intonation and Pragmatics
and so does America.“
(Hillary Clinton, DNC, 2004)
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Contour description
Introduction to English Syntax
The contour is characterized by three accents:
- a fall-rise on So,
- a fall on the auxiliary does and
- a contrastive sentence final accent on America.
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Intonation:
Definition: Intonation refers to the use of suprasegmental phonetic features (pitchmovements/melody) to convey sentence-level pragmatic meanings in a linguisticallystructured way.
(Ladd 1996, 6).
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Intonational Phonology:
Definition: The elements and principles thatdetermine the intonation of an utterance. (SW)
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PD Dr. Susanne Winkler Universität Tübingen
I think I know a great leader when I see one –
a. and America knows a great leader when she sees one.
b. *and so does America know a great leader when she sees one.
Intonation, Discourse and MeaningQ1: What does and so does America mean?
Q2: What does so refer to?
Q3: How can we find out?
Use PARAPHRASES!
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Summary
1. Sounds (Phonetics/Phonology and Meaning)
2. Words (Morphology and Meaning)
3. Sentences (Syntax, Intonation and Meaning)
4. Utterances (Discourse and Meaning)
Final Question: what are interfaces?
Introduction to English Syntax
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Introduction to English Linguistics
Model of Grammar in The Minimalist Program[Chomsky 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002]
LexiconSyntax
syntactic structure
PF component
PF representation˜
SPEECH SYSTEMS
semantic component
semantic representation˜
THOUGHT SYSTEMS