Linguistics 451: Syntax and Semantics I

Scott DeLancey                            Christiane Oliviera                
Straub 227                                Straub 232                           
346-3901                                  346-4302                           
delancey@darkwing.uoregon.edu             cco@darkwing.uoregon.edu
M-Tu 2-3                                  MW 1:30-2:30 or by appointment
or (preferably) by appointment--use
   e-mail

Texts: Givon, Syntax:  A Functional-Typological Introduction, Vol. I
DeLancey, Lectures on Functional Syntax 

Course requirements:  Problem sets (25%), midterm (35%) and final
(45%) examinations.  Midterm and final exams will be take-home.

Course outline (numbers in parentheses are chapters in GivĒn):

Jan  7    I. On linguistic analysis (1)
          The structural analysis of language; criterial and
          prototype approaches in lexical semantics; open and closed
          systems; structure and semantics of paradigmatic sets;
          structure and semantics of syntagmatic constructions
   9-11   II. Structuralism, typology, and functionalism (2)
          Capsule history of linguistics; description and
          explanation; "Functional/typological" linguistics
          III.   Word classes (3)
          Roots, stems & words; morphosyntactic categories
  14-18   IV. Clause structure I: Predicate types and case roles
          (4)
          Categorization of verbs by event type and by array of
          arguments; semantic and syntactic classification of
          participant roles
  21-25   V. Clause structure II: Grammatical Relations (5)
          Subject, object, etc.
  28-Feb1 VI. Clause structure III: Typology of argument marking
          (5)
          Accusative, ergative and active/stative typology
Feb 4-8   VII.   Syntactic and morphological typology  (6)
          The analysis-synthesis continuum, constituent order
          typology, "configurational" and "flat" ordering patterns
  11-15   VIII. Tense/aspect, modality, and evidentiality (8)
          Tense and aspect; the semantics and discourse functions of
          aspect categories; the marking of information source and
          epistemological status of information
      18  IX. Negation (9)
   20-22  X. Grammaticalization and T/A/M/E systems
          Where tense/aspect etc. marking comes from.
 F27-M4   X. Pronouns and anaphora (7, 10)
          Discourse function of pronouns and their equivalents;
          participant indexing in verbs; switch reference and
          obviation; zero anaphora; the "nominal/pronominal argument"
          typological continuum
     6-8  XI. Definiteness and referentiality (11)
   11-15  XI. Nouns and Noun Phrases (Ch. 1 of Syntax,
          vol. II)
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Problem sets.

     The homework problems all ask you to analyze and comment on a
set of data from a (real) language.  A satisfactory answer should do
three things:  clearly present your analysis (i.e. identification of
morphemes and constructions, according to your instructions), de-
scribe any possible alternative analyses, and explain why you chose
the analysis which you did, and comment on the typological interest
of the data.  (The clearest way to present your answer is to begin
with a typological discussion, and then proceed to the details of
your analysis.  Obviously in working out your answer you will have to
proceed in the reverse order).

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A List of gloss abbreviations occurring in Givon's Syntax
                    (thanks to Colette Grunevald)


ABS       Absolutive                    INST      Instrument(al)
ACC       Accusative                    IO        Indirect object
ACT       Active                        ITER      Iterative
ADV       Adverb(ial)                   LOC       Locative
AGT       Agent(ive)                    MANN      Manner
AN(IM)    Animate                       NEG       Negative
ANT       Anterior (aspect)             NOM       Nominalizer
ASP       Aspect                        NOM       Nominative
ASSOC     Associative                   NONSIM    Nonsimultaneous
BEN       Benefactive                   NONVOL    Nonvolitional
CAUSE     Causative                     NONREF    Nonreferential
CL        Classifier                    Nref      Nonreferential
DAT       Dative                        PERF      Perfect
DECL      Declarative                   PERF      Perfective
DEF       Definite
DIM       Diminutive                    PL        Plural
DO        Direct object                 PREF      Prefix
DS        Different subject             PART      Participle
DUR       Durative                      PRO       Pronoun
EMPH      Emphatic                      REC       Recipient
ERG       Ergative                      REF       Referential
FOC       Focus                         REFL      Reflexive
FUT       Future                        REM       Remote
GEN       Genitive                      SIM       Simultaneous
HAB       Habitual                      SUBJUNC   Subjunctive
IMM       Immediate                     SS        Same subject
INCEP     Inceptive                     STAT      Stative
IMPERF    Imperfective                  SUFF      Suffix
INF       Infinitive                    TNS       Tense marker
INTERROG  Interrogative                 TOP       Topic
INANIM    Inanimate                     UNCER     Uncertain
                                        VOL       Volitional