Course
Language Structure: An Introduction to Generative Syntax - ILS
In this course, students will be introduced to the basics of generative linguistics, the theoretical framework evolved from and based on Noam Chomsky’s work.
€200
Specifications
Description
Language is a structured and accessible product of the human mind. Generative Grammar chooses to study language for this reason, as one possible way to gain understanding about the human mind. This choice takes linguistics as part of language as part of the Cognitive Sciences. (Everaert, Huybregts, Chomsky, Berwick & Bolhuis (2015). Structures, Not Strings: Linguistics as Part of the Cognitive Sciences. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 19(12) doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2015.09.008)
The tools of formal linguistics/ Generative Grammar enable linguists to explore the complex and fascinating system underlying sentence structure and through that sentence meaning. The theory accounts for the creativity of human language and other characteristics that make it unlike the communication system of any other animal.
While language finds expression in culture, and is commonly associated with it, in generative grammar language is primarily a biological property of the human species, not a cultural one. It is found in all humans, regardless of their culture, and all language systems are equally complex. We will look at syntax, the abstract properties of human language structure, and learn how to formalize the rules that govern it. As we will see, only a handful of syntactic principles are needed to generate an infinite number of possible sentences from a finite set of words available in a language. Topics covered will include the major concepts used to analyze linguistic phenomena.
This course is offered by the Institute for Language Sciences, the home of linguistic and communications research at Utrecht University.
This course is part of the preparations for entrance into the RMA Linguistics at Utrecht University.
Lecturers
Prof. Dr. Martin Everaert
Aim of the course
Provide students with an introduction to the syntactic theorizing, acquaint yourself with the structural properties of language, and help you taking this perspective into account in areas such as language acquisition, psycholinguistics, the study of meaning, etc. That is we will try to make you understand why Linguistics is part of the Cognitive Sciences.
Study load
Daily 2 1/2 hour session. Maximum of one hour of homework per day.
Costs
- Course fee: €200.00
- Included: Course fee
- Housing fee: €200
- Housing provider: Utrecht Summer School
There is a discount of € 50 if this course is combined with at least one more Linguistics course whose title includes mention of ILS and for which the full amount is paid.
There are no scholarships available for this course.
Additional information
The housing costs do not include a Utrecht Summer School sleeping bag and/or pillow. These are separate products on the invoice. If you wish to bring your own bedding, please deselect or remove the sleeping bag from your order.
Application
A motivation letter is required from non-EU residents. You can send it to k.schutter@uu.nl via e-mail.