Time Schedule:
Ellen Kaisse
LING 580
Seattle Campus
Advanced study in current theories of syntax, semantics, phonology, or morphology. Can be repeated for credit.
Class description
Winter 2010 Syllable structure, weight, and sonority sequencing
Super-seminar with Wright Ling 580 Cue distribution and the syllable
• Structure of the syllable: Blevins 1995, Zec 2007, Steriade review of Clements and Keyser • The sonority sequencing principle: Clements 1990 • Other putative universals: Syllable contact law, sonority dispersion, constraints favoring onsets and disfavoring codas and complex constituents • Phonetic cue explanations for apparent sonority sequencing; explanation of exceptions: Wright 2004 • Syllable weight: Gordon 2004, Zec 1995
Student learning goals
Increase understanding of phonological and phonetic explanations (complementary or opposed) for the structure of the syllable and the ordering of segments within it.
Improve ability to write an abstract and a research paper that can be submitted to a conference, used as the basis for a senior honors thesis, or developed into a generals paper, thesis or dissertation.
General method of instruction
Seminar style -- some lecture; some class discussion led by either the instructor or a member of the class.
Recommended preparation
Prerequisite: phonology through ling 452 or equivalent preferred. You will be fine with just Ling 451 if you are pretty good at phonology.
Class assignments and grading
Students are responsible for leading the discussion for one article or book section and will write a paper and a conference abstract for that paper. There may also be short ungraded assignments/problems to check on understanding. Discussion may include 'debates' where half the class is responsible for defending one side of an issue and the other half the class defends the opposite point of view.
presentation of chapter/reading; paper and abstract; participation in discussion and 'deabtes'
