160242 VO Recent Developments in the Theory of Grammar (2007W)

Neuere Entwicklungen der Grammatiktheorie: The Structure of the Lexicon
Maximally Distributing Morphology and the Interface with Processing
The course focuses on how the lexicon deals with productive morphology, compounding, and the importance and consequences of unique addresses assigned to lexical entries. The latter constitute the interface with syntactic processing. Suitable for 2nd year students, with advanced aspects introduced as the course goes on.
The lectures will flesh out the arguments in my paper "How Much should we Distribute Morphology?" A main theme is that there is no reason to retain any specifically "morphological" entities or principles in linguistic theory, either in phonology or syntax. (see a first version: http://sils.shoin.ac.jp/Talks9/Kyoeisha/00emonds.pdf No need to read in advance though).

Topic 1: Is Morphology a separate component? c. 2 weeks
The concept "bound morpheme" and its role in word formation
Semantic and morphological distinctions between morphology and compounding
Previous candidates for specifically morphological principles and categories
Definition of Distributed Morphology

Topic 2. Lexical entries for bound morphemes. Morphology vs. compounding. c.2 weeks
Compounds and word stress in English. Syntactically defined stress domains.
Stress in complex morphological formations. "Level Morphology"
Formal specifying the form of vocabulary items
Morphological "boundaries": canceling category bracketing in PF

Topic 3. The relation between morphological Merger and syntactic Merge. c. 2 weeks
Merger as (late) Merge in internal domains.
A general treatment of Inflection: number agreement, comparison, etc.
Lexical entries as predictors of late Merge and fusion: "Alternative Realization"
Lexically representing both "upward' and "downward" AR': affix movement in English and applicative structures across languages

Topic 4. Extension of Alternative Realization to free morphemes. c. 3 weeks
Extending AR to free morphemes: pronouns, articles, auxiliaries, complementizers, adverbs. More lexical representations of closed class items
Comparisons with Head Movement

Topic 5. Using lexical properties to model processing of convergent numerations.3 weeks
A model for perception. The hearer's handicap.
Use of unique open class phonological addresses; the "cohort theory" of lexical look-up
Attempting a production model, using unique syntactic addresses for closed class items

Topic 6. Lexical entries with null phonology. c. 1 week
Limitation to closed class items.
Alternative Realization vs. lexical stipulation for both bound and free morphemes.

Topic 7. More notational conventions in Syntacticon entries. c. 2 weeks
The addressing role of the "first feature"; French vs. English tense morphemes
Brace and parentheses notation. The example of French clitics
A speculation on limiting lexical specifications (one feature per spelling)

Topic 8, if time permits. Limits on lexical entry size--The Logical Form Case Filter

Attendees might read in advance "Morphology: Starting with words," Ch. 2 in An Introduction to Syntactic Analysis and Theory by H. Koopman, D. Sportiche and E Stabler. I will use almost everything in this accurate introductory essay:
http://www.linguistics.ucla.edu/people/sportich/papers/isat.pdf