OVERVIEW

The syntax of Russian: a formal analysis.
36 hrs, 6 credits.
Prior requirements: elementary knowledge of Russian and its morpho-syntactic structures; basics of general grammar (parts of speech, predicates, agreemeent, case, etc..)

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The class will offer a description of some morpho-syntactic features of Russian, with subsequent discussion of related theoretical issues. The discussion will be set in the framework of a formal approach to natural languages and thus the course will serve also as an introduction to the basics of generative grammar. However, the topics dealt with in the course will also have a learning-oriented side in offering a better understanding of some constructions of Russian.

TEACHING METHODS

The course content will be delivered via classroom lectures with the support of Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Linguistics: what is language? Natural languages, the Faculty of Language and the architecture of grammar.
Contemporary Standard Russian: its position within Slavic, diachronic overview, typology.
Russian syntax. The verb and its arguments, thematic structure. The VP and the basic clausal structure. The noun phrase, its arguments and its extended structure, the DP. The clause, types of clauses. Non-nominative subjects. Information structure: Topic-Comment relations and syntactic structures. Case: case government and case alternations. The typological features of Russian and related theoretical issues.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The course will be taught on the basis of Bailyn (2012) and Fici Giusti, Gebert & Signorini (1991).
Additional books that will be of use for reference are Donati (2008), Graffi (1994), Graffi & Scalise (2008), Jackendoff (1998) (see references below).
Readings: research articles on specific topics will be distributed in class or made available in Aulaweb course page.

• Bailyn, J.F., 2012. The syntax of Russian, Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.
• Donati, C., 2008. La sintassi : regole e strutture, Bologna: Il Mulino.
• Fici Giusti, F., Gebert, L. & Signorini, S., 1991. La lingua russa, Roma: Nuova Italia Scientifica.
• Graffi, G., 1994. Sintassi, Bologna: Il mulino.
• Graffi, G. & Scalise, S., 2008. Le lingue e il linguaggio: introduzione alla linguistica, 2° ed., Bologna: Il Mulino.
• Jackendoff, R., 1998. Linguaggio e natura umana, Bologna: Il mulino (or original English edition: Jackendoff, R. 1993. Patterns in the mind: language and human nature. New York: Harvester Wheatsheaf).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANTONIO CIVARDI (President)

GUIDO GIOVANNI BORGHI

MARIO ALESSANDRO CURLETTO

SARA DICKINSON

LAURA SALMON

LESSONS

LESSONS START

October 14, 2016.

Class schedule

RUSSIAN LINGUISTICS

EXAMS

Exam schedule