UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS

SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS, AFRICAN & ASIAN STUDIES

FIRST SEMESTER 2012/2013Academic Session

AFL 853:                                                            GRAMMATICAL THEORIES

Course Description

A study of the different grammatical theories from the Phrase Structure Grammar to Minimalist Program

Instructor:          Dr. O.J. Ajíbóyè

Meeting times:    Tuesday 2-4 (PG RM)

Office:                  RM A512

Tel:                       0805-174-0201, 0703-009-6142

email                    oladiipo@yahoo.com

Office hours        Wednesday 4-5pm

Course requirements:       

                            

                             Two term papers          (type written)                         40%

                             Presentation of selected papers in class                  20%

                             Final exam                                                                   40%

SYLLABUS

1. Assumptions and Goals of Grammatical Theorizing

2. Traditional Grammar

3. Phrase Structure Grammar

3. Transformations: Two levels of transformation

4. X-bar theory

5. Theta Theory

6. Binding Theory and Control

7. Movement Theory

8. Minimalist Program

References

1. Henk van Riemsdijk & Edwin Williams (1986). Introduction to Theory of Grammar. Chapter 1.

2. Gert Webelhuth (ed.). 1995. Government and Binding Theory and Theory and the Minimalist Program. Chapters 4, 5 & 7.

3. Jamal Ouhalla.1994.

4. Ian Roberts 1997. Comparative Syntax

5. Andrew Radford. 1997. Syntax: A minimalist introduction

6. Noam Chomsky. 1995. The Minimalist Program. MIT Press Massachusetts.

7. Rose-Marie Déchaine. Predicates Across Categories. Amherst, Massachusetts.

8. Andrew Carnie. 2007. Syntax: A Generative Introduction.

9. Ogbonna Ndubuisi Anyanwu. 2007. The Syntax of Igbo Causative Verbs: A Minimalist Account.

10. Ilori, Johnson Folorunso 2010. Nominal Constructions in Igala and Yoruba. Doctoral Dissertation. Ondo State University, Akungba, Nigeria.

11. Ajiboye, Oladiipo 2004. The Syntax of Yorùbá Reflexive Epithets. The Journal of West African Languages. Volume XXXI Number 1: 89-123.

12. Adesola, O.P. Logophoricity and Anti-logophoricity in Yorùbá

13. Cook, V.J. 1987. Chomsky’s Universal Grammar: An Introduction

14.Kayne, Richard S. 1994. The Antisymmetry of Syntax.