ADVANCED SYNTAX

The course "Advanced Syntax" is one of the fundamental formative disciplines of the degree program in Language Sciences which should allow the student to acquire a profound knowledge of the base principles of linguistic research. The goal is that of bringing the student to a analyze the basic syntactic structures of his/her language of specialization, from the linguistic facts.

It is expected that the student will eventually be able to carry out a personal research on a topic agreed on with the teacher.
Specifically, the student will have to:
- understand and master the analytic tools of the theory of syntax
- be able to apply the knowledge acquired to the structure of languages and reflect on their peculiarities
- master the special terms of the discipline, which h/she should be able to illustrate clearly
- demonstrate that he/she has acquired the tools that enable him/her to enhance his/her knowledge of the filed

What is required is a good knowledge of the various areas of Linguistics or to have passed Linguistica Generale I and II.

The functional structure of nominal phrases, with particular attention to adjectival syntax.

G. Cinque On the Evidence for Partial N-movement in the Romance DP. In G.Cinque, J.Koster, J.-Y.Pollock, L.Rizzi and R.Zanuttini (eds.) Paths Towards Universal Grammar. Studies in Honor of Richard S. Kayne. Washington, 1994, Georgetown University Press, pp.85-110
G. Cinque Deriving Greenberg’s Universal 20 and Its Exceptions. Linguistic Inquiry 36: 315-332 2005
G. Cinque The Syntax of Adjectives. A Comparative Study. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. 2010 (pp.1-186)
G. Cinque Greenberg’s Universal 23 and SVO Languages. In M.Frascarelli (ed.) Structures and Meanings: Cross-theoretical perspectives. 75-80. Paris/Roma: L’Harmattan 2011
G. Cinque Diminutive, endearing, augmentative and pejorative heads in the extended nominal projection. In Di Domenico, E., C. Hamann and S. Matteini (eds.) Structures, Strategies and Beyond, pp. 67-81. Amsterdam: Benjamins 2015

The acquisition of the topics covered in the course will be evaluated through a written exam at the end of the course. The exam will consist in providing answers to a number of open questions. Every answer will be assigned a specific mark for a total of 30/30 (and distinction).
- The open questions will allow the instructor to check whether the student is able to master the subject matter and consider it critically, while showing specific abilities in problem solving.

Conventional (oral presentation).

No further information.

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