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..)
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.
The course content will be delivered via classroom lectures with the support of Aulaweb.
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.
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).
Ricevimento: Thursdays, from 15:30 to 17:00 hrs.
ANTONIO CIVARDI (President)
GUIDO GIOVANNI BORGHI
MARIO ALESSANDRO CURLETTO
SARA DICKINSON
LAURA SALMON
October 4, 2018, at 3 p.m. Venue: Aula A [Polo didattico Fontane].
RUSSIAN LINGUISTICS
The final exam entails a co-operative discussion of the topics dealt with during the classes: every student will be assigned a sentence in Russian and will be requested to propose a syntactic analysis for it. 20-30 minutes will be given for analysing the sentence, thereaftere everyone will present his/her own analysis and discuss it with the instructor and with his/her peers.
The second part of the exam of a question on the topics related to the aspect and meaning of the verb in Russian (for example: what is a causative predicate?) and finally a grade will be assigned by the instructor on the basis of the discussion of the analysis and of the answer to the question.
See "Exam descripton"
