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 remotely via lectures on the MS Teams platform, with the support of Aulaweb. To join the Team follow this link.

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)

LAURA SALMON

SARA DICKINSON (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Thursday, October 1st, 2020

Class schedule

RUSSIAN LINGUISTICS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

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.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

See "Exam descripton"

Exam schedule