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Course contents and suggested bibliography

13. Typology and generative syntax
FREDERICK NEWMEYER (U Washington)

DAY	TOPIC
September 1	Universal Grammar and the study of language typology
September 2	Rules, parameters, and typology
September 3	Early parametric studies: bounding and binding
September 4	Baker’s ‘Parameter Hierarchy’ and polysynthesis
September 5	Head directionality and configurationality
September 8	Ergativity and topic prominence
September 9	Verb attraction and serial verbs
September 10	Null subjects
September 11	Kayne’s Antisymmetric Program and typology
September 12	Optimality Theory and syntactic typology

READING: The course will center around a presentation and critical discussion of Mark Baker’s book The Atoms of Language: The Mind’s Hidden Rules of Grammar (2001, New York: Basic Books). It would be ideal if students could read it before the course begins (it can be ordered through amazon.com).

REQUIREMENT: Either a very short (2 page) essay due the last day of the class or a more substantial paper due before the end of the year. The short essay should be a statement of some issue related to the course topic that you found interesting, challenging, unconvincing, etc. and would be a good topic for your future research.

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