The unit introduces students to Chomsky's theory of universal grammar. The unit introduces early rule-based generative syntax, with the goal of encouraging students to think about language and construction of syntactic theory as an exercise in scientific reasoning. Using the software 'Syntactica', students will build a grammar for English, 'trying-out' the rules and potential sentence structures. The unit will cover aspects of phrase structure, constituency, the mental lexicon, inaudible elements, movement rules, and constraints on movement transformations. -- Course Website
Instructor: Associate Professor Rosalind Thornton
Prerequisites: LING110(P)
