HISTORICAL LINGUISTICS MOD.1

To offer an introduction to issues related to language change, especially in the syntax of natural languages. The students will be brought to know and understand the theoretical tools of syntactic change, and to apply them to different languages. They should also master the technical jargon and should be able to communicate the acquired knowledge in a clear and non ambiguous way.

The expected results are the understanding of syntactic change and of the factors that constrain it, primarily from Universal Grammar.

The requirement is to have passed Linguistica Generale I e II

Introduction to language change, limited by linguistic universals. Generative and typological linguistics.

Alice C. Harris and Lyle Campbell. Historical syntax in cross-linguistic perspective.
Cambridge: Cambridge University press, 1995. Chapters 1 through 8.

J.H.Greenberg, 'Alcuni Universali della grammatica con particolare riferimento all'ordine degli elementi significativi'. In Paradigmi Glottologici, a cura di P.Benincà e G.Longobardi. Milano: LED, 1993, pp.383-426

Paola Benincà “A Detailed Map of the Left Periphery of Medieval Romance”
In Zanuttini, Raffaella, Héctor Campos, Elena Herburger and Paul Portner (eds.), Crosslinguistic Research in Syntax and Semantics. Negation, Tense and Clausal Architecture. Georgetown University Press, Washington 2006, pp. 53-86.

through a written exam consisting of a number of questions concerning the topics presented in class.

traditional classes.

Italian

No further information.

written