winkler - uni-tuebingen.de · 24 introduction to english syntax phonetics and phonology: dretzke,...

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English SyntaxSyntax and its Interaction with the Interfaces

Winkler

WS06/07

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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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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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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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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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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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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.


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.


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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.


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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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Do you have a watch?

No, sorry. But I think it’s about six.


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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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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.


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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.)


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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?


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


[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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Nonstandard English

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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 –


Information Packaging 05:

Syntax, Intonation and Pragmatics

and so does America.“

(Hillary Clinton, DNC, 2004)

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Time (s)0 2.60336

100

500

and so does America


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Contour description


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?


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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

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Assignments

1. Buy the Radford (2004)-book

2. Read Radford (2004), Chapters 1 and 2

3. Do exercise 1.1 until next week.


winkler - uni-tuebingen.de · 24 introduction to english syntax phonetics and phonology: dretzke,...

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