University of Houston
Department of Modern and Classical Languages
SPAN 6356
Spring 2003
Time: 4-5:30 TTH
Instructor: Prof. M. Emma Ticio
Office: 435-AH
Phone: (713) 743-3054
Email: meticio@mail.uh.edu
mticio@uh.edu
Office Hours: TBA
Spanish Syntax
Description:
The proposed course offers an introduction to Generative Grammar through the study of
Spanish Syntax. The course does not presuppose any knowledge of the theoretical
framework, since the basic theoretical assumptions will be introduced in the course. Once
the essential notions are introduced, the core theories will be tested against the
fundamental syntactic properties of Spanish. The study of selected issues in Spanish
Syntax under this theoretical framework will prepare the students to read the body of
research in this field.
Goals:
1. To introduce the main principles of the generative grammar through the study of
its fundamental theories.
2. To analyze and explain the core syntactic structures in Spanish using the
principles and theories developed under the generative framework.
3. To study the primary research on Spanish Syntax.
Texts:
NOTE: This course does not have a particular textbook. The instructor will select
chapters of some books and papers to be used in the class.
The students can have the following as reference books:
Bosque, Ignacio.1989. Las Categorías Gramaticales. Madrid: Síntesis.
Chomsky, Noam. 1986. Knowledge of Language: Its Nature, Origin, and Use. New
York: Praeger Publishers.
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Chomsky, Noam. 1987. Language and Problems of Knowledge. The Managua Lectures.
Cambridge, MA and London: The MIT Press.
Chomsky, Noam. 1995. The Minimalist Program. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press,
[Translated as El programa minimista. Barcelona: Editorial Ariel (1998)]
Demonte, Violeta.1989. Teoría Sintáctica: De las Estructuras a la Rección. Madrid:
Síntesis.
D'Introno, Francesco. 2001. Sintaxis Generativa del Español: Evolución y Análisis.
Madrid: Cátedra.
Hernanz, María Luisa y José María Brucart. 1987. La Sintaxis I. Principios Teóricos. La
Oración Simple. Barcelona: Crítica.
Lasnik, Howard and Juan Uriagereka. 1988. A Course in GB Syntax. Cambridge, Mass.:
MIT Press.
Lasnik, Howard. 2000. Syntactic Structures Revisited. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Students' responsibilities:
Attendance to scheduled sessions
Active participation in discussions
Homework
Final Exam
Written paper*
Oral presentation**
* The term paper will consist of a critical review of a syntactic paper. The paper will be selected from the
list of readings that will be distributed at the beginning of the semester.
** The oral presentation will consist of a presentation of a syntactic paper. The paper will be selected from
the list of readings that will be distributed at the beginning of the semester.
Grading System:
1.- Attendance/Participation: 10%
2.- Homework: 10%
4.- Final Exam: 30%
3.- Oral Presentation: 20%
4.- Term Paper: 30%
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