LEL2D: Cross-Linguistic Variation: Limits & Theories - The ...
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LEL2D: Cross-Linguistic Variation: Limits & Theories
LASC08020 course handbook
School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences
Semester 2, 2020/2021
1 Key staff
Course Organizer Dr Pavel Iosad pavel.iosad@ed.ac.uk. The open door meet-
ing (‘office hour’) takes place every week on Wednesdays, 10:30–12:00 on
Microsoft Teams. Click here to join.
Course Secretary Ms Susan Hermiston lelinfo@ed.ac.uk
2 Course aims and objectives
The course focuses on variation in grammatical systems in the world’s lan-
guages, particularly in the areas of morphosyntax and phonology, on its
importance for linguistic analysis and theory, and the responses given by
linguistic theory to these challenges. The course aims to develop students’
awareness of the diversity of linguistic phenomena and restrictions on it, their
skills in analysing a diverse range of data, and their theoretical understanding
of the sources of linguistic variation and different approaches to explaining its
range and limits.
The course gives an introduction to the study of linguistic typology and
the issue of linguistic universals. It addresses issues of theory construction
more broadly and in linguistics specifically, methods in the study of typological
variation, and approaches to explanation. In particular, the course considers
the tension between ‘grammar-internal’ and ‘grammar-external’ explanations
in linguistic theory, with reference to questions of innateness, emergence
of linguistic structure, domain-specificity of linguistic knowledge, the role
of processing ease and other psycholinguistic factors, the importance of
developmental data, and diachronic/historical explanations for patterns of
linguistic diversity.
In addition to these overarching questions, the course also equips students
with knowledge and skills related to the description and theoretical analysis
of specific phenomena in a diverse range of languages, including patterns
of word order, syntactic relations, phonological alternations, and language
development.
There are four blocks of teaching
1. The implications of universals and variation. This block introduces some
central issues relating to our understanding of the extent of and limits onLE L2D : CR OS S-LIN GU IS T IC VA R I AT ION : LIMI T S & T HE OR IE S 2
cross-linguistic variation at structural levels (especially phonology and
syntax). We will explore trends in linguists’ responses to observations about
cross-linguistic variation, often from very different points of view, and
consider the nature and history of linguistic theory as it has been developed
to explain, or at least cope with, what is possible in terms of cross-linguistic
variation. We will particularly focus on the tensions between grammar-
internal and grammar-external explanations of linguistic patterns. The block
consists of two subparts: one introductory group of lectures that sets the
overall themes of the course, and a final set of lectures addressing some
general approaches to understanding cross-linguistic variation.
2. Morphosyntax. This block presents case studies of cross-linguistic dif-
ferences in syntax and explores how the syntactic theory that you have
already considered in earlier courses can account for these differences, and
where it has to be extended or adapted. At the same time, we will explore
underlying structural similarities between grammars of apparently very
different languages, and ways of accounting for those similarities. You will
both become familiar with a wider range of linguistic phenomena, and
develop your understanding of the theoretical tools for explaining them.
3. Phonology. This block explores universals and variation at the level of phon-
ology. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills in phonological
analysis by applying them to data from a variety of languages. We will also
consider the range of cross-linguistic variation in selected phonological
domains (such as inventory structure, rule ordering, syllabification, and
the phonology of stress) and the relationship between theory and data in
phonological analysis.
4. Language acquisition. A language learner must gain knowledge about
the basic linguistic properties that are shared among human languages as
well as linguistic structures that can vary across languages. Can linguistic
theory help us understand how these different aspects of language are
acquired? Conversely, can linguistic theory be informed by the way
language is acquired? This block addresses these issues by examining
language acquisition by children from a variety of theoretical perspectives,
and how linguistic typology can be shaped by language acquisition.
3 Prerequisites
Students are expected to have a good background in structural linguistic study
before beginning the course. For Edinburgh students, this means that you
must have passed both Linguistics and English Language 1A and Linguistics
and English Language 1B, and are expected to have passed LEL2A: Linguistic
Theory and the Structure of English. Visiting students should usually have at
least 1 introductory level Language Science course at grade B or above (or beLE L2D : CR OS S-LIN GU IS T IC VA R I AT ION : LIMI T S & T HE OR IE S 3
predicted to obtain this).1 1
Relevant courses will be courses in
linguistics as an academic discipline. Courses
that describe aspects of a given language as
4 Learning outcomes part of a modern foreign languages degree
will typically not provide students with an
adequate background.
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate their knowledge of some important ways in which the
phonological and syntactic systems of different languages differ from each
other, the extent to which these differences are restricted, and understanding
of how these different systems have been analysed within current linguistic
theory.
2. Analyse data from unfamiliar languages using the theoretical tools presen-
ted.
3. Explain how crosslinguistic data can be used to test theories
4. Discuss the factors influencing the nature of cross-linguistic variation and
its limits, such as the architecture of the language faculty, general cognitive
factors, and the nature of language acquisition
5. Demonstrate an understanding of the role of cross-linguistic variation
in major developments in linguistic theory, and of the major issues and
controversies concerning the limits of linguistic variation.
5 PPLS undergraduate student information
The PPLS Undergraduate Student Handbook has lots of information on
student support and academic guidance (who to ask if you’re having problems);
extensions for coursework; penalties for late coursework and plagiarism; illness
and disability adjustments, and many other useful sources of advice. Do make
sure that you consult it carefully as these things are not covered here. The
information2 can be found at https://www.ed.ac.uk/ppls/linguistics-and- 2
Including links to extensions and special
circumstances applications
english-language/current/undergraduate.
6 Teaching staff
The following members of academic staff are involved in the course. Links lead
to their profile pages, including further contact information and details of office
hours etc.
• Dr Pavel Iosad3 (pavel.iosad@ed.ac.uk; Course Organizer) 3
IPA [ˈjɔːsəd]
• Prof. John Joseph (john.joseph@ed.ac.uk)
• Prof. Antonella Sorace (antonella.sorace@ed.ac.uk)
• Prof. Graeme Trousdale (graeme.trousdale@ed.ac.uk)
• Dr Rob Truswell (rob.truswell@ed.ac.uk)
Tutorials are delivered by the following members of staff:
• Dr Pavel Iosad (pavel.iosad@ed.ac.uk)LE L2D : CR OS S-LIN GU IS T IC VA R I AT ION : LIMI T S & T HE OR IE S 4
• Matthew King (mking34@exseed.ed.ac.uk)
• Jakub Musil (Jakub.Musil@ed.ac.uk)
• Takanobu Nakamura (tnakamur@exseed.ed.ac.uk)
• Prof. Graeme Trousdale (graeme.trousdale@ed.ac.uk)
• Tobias Ungerer (tungerer@exseed.ed.ac.uk)
• Ivaylo Youmerski (iyoumers@exseed.ed.ac.uk)
7 Teaching delivery
The delivery of teaching is organized by week. Teaching in most, but not all
weeks is delivered via a mix of asynchronous and live activities. Indicative
study guides will be provided each week detailing the suggested order of
activities in each week. Here are some general notes:
• Where the primary method of delivery is asynchronous,4 most weeks are 4
Usually as pre-recorded lectures.
divided into (usually three) blocks. One block roughly corresponds to one
lecture’s worth of materials. In most cases, the recorded material is intended
to be interspersed with other activities, such as exercises and linguistic
puzzles. You are expected to complete these exercises before watching the
relevant lectures: consult the study guide for each week to determine the
ordering.
• A number of lectures (see the schedule below) will be delivered live online
on Zoom. If you are unable to attend the lectures at the scheduled time,
recordings will be provided for review at your own pace.
• Tutorials will take place live, on Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting in
Week 1. Following the announcement in January, all tutorials will be live
online on Zoom. You are expected to complete the work set in advance of
the tutorial.
– If you need to change your tutorial allocation, you should fill in the form
available here
• In addition to the tutorials, we are offering drop-in clinics during the week
to help with the in-week assignments, and answer any general questions
remaining. Remember that completion of in-week activities is essential
to understanding the lectures, and very useful for building the skills you
will need for your assessment. Therefore, it is very important that you use
these clinics if you are having trouble with the activities: we are here to
help.5 The clinics run at the following times; for the passcodes, see Learn 5
Please note that we will not be releasing
under ‘Course information’. detailed answers to the in-week activities in
time for you to use them in working through
– Online. Tuesday, 16:10 Edinburgh time. Click here to join. the lectures (though we will be providing
– Online. Wednesday, 09:00 Edinburgh time. Click here to join. them later for revision purposes): use the
drop-ins or Piazza to get the help when you
– Online. Thursday, 10:00 Edinburgh time. Click here to join. most need it.
• If you have a question to ask that you did not manage to get an answer to
in a live event, there is a Piazza forum for the course. Click here for more
information. Please note that questions relating to assessment will alwaysLE L2D : CR OS S-LIN GU IS T IC VA R I AT ION : LIMI T S & T HE OR IE S 5
be redirected to Piazza.
• We encourage students to form autonomous learning groups of 3–4 peers
to meet regularly to work on the course activities throughout the semester.
We are not making this a formal requirement, and we are not setting any
work that must be done in these groups, but we strongly suggest that this
will be a useful way of managing your time.
8 Teaching schedule
Week Date Block 1 Block 2 Block 3
1 11 Jan–15 Jan Implications: Introduc- Implications: Linguistic Implications: Linguistic
tion to cross-linguistic typology. Parameters of theory and linguistic
variation [PI/GT] variation. [PI/GT] typology. [PI/GT]
2 18 Jan–22 Jan Implications: Ex- Implications: History of Morphosyntax: Word
plaining the limits of linguistics [PI/GT] order parameters [RT]
variation [PI/GT]
3 25 Jan–29 Jan Morphosyntax: Aux- Morphosyntax: Verb- Morphosyntax: Verb-
iliaries and verbal initial word order [RT] second [RT]
inflection [RT]
4 1 Feb–5 Feb Morphosyntax: Syn- Morphosyntax: Ergativ- Morphosyntax: Modu-
tactic dependencies ity [RT] larity [RT]
[RT]
5 8 Feb–12 Feb Morphosyntax: The Morphosyntax: Scram- Morphosyntax: The
Null Subject Parameter bling [RT] head parameter revisited
[RT] [RT]
15 Feb–19 Feb Catch-up week. No teaching or tutorials.
6 22 Feb–26 Feb Phonology: The scope Phonology: phonological analysis [PI]
of phonological theory
[PI]
7 1 Mar–5 Mar Phonology: Distinctive Phonology: Phonemic Phonoloogy: Syllable
features [PI] inventories [PI] structure [PI]
8 8 Mar–12 Mar Phonology: stress Phonology: Optimality Theory [PI]
typology [PI]
9 15 Mar–19 Mar Phonology: Explanation in phonology [PI] Language acquisition I
[AS]
10 22 Mar–26 Mar Language acquisition II Language acquisition III Implications: Simplicity
[AS] [AS] and complexity [JJ].
Live online, Friday
12:10–13:00LE L2D : CR OS S-LIN GU IS T IC VA R I AT ION : LIMI T S & T HE OR IE S 6
Week Date Block 1 Block 2 Block 3
11 29 Mar–2 Apr Implications: Is ana- Implications: Dar- Summary and wrap-up
lytical objectivity pos- winian implications [JJ] [PI]
sible? [JJ] Live online, Live online, Tuesday
Monday 12:10–13:00 12:10–13:00
Links to the live online lectures will be posted on Learn nearer the time.
9 Readings
The Reading List for the course is available online and linked through from
Learn. Detailed instructions are also provided in the weekly study guides.
10 Assessment
There are three components of assessment for this course:
• Homework 15%. There will be three assignments in this category, for each
of the morphosyntax, phonology, and acquisition blocks, to be released
after the end of each component. These will be delivered as Learn exercises.
Specific information about each assignment will be released in due course.
• Midterm coursework 40%. This will be a data analysis assignment covering
the morphosyntax and phonology components of the course. It will
be released in Week 6 and is due at noon on Wednesday, 24 March.
Submission is electronic via Turnitin.
• Final assignment 45%. This will be an essay of 2,000 words covering
all components of the course. It is due at noon on Wednesday, 5 May.
Submission is electronic via Turnitin.
11 Piazza
There is a Piazza forum for this course, which you can use to ask questions that
you are not able to ask in tutorials or drop-ins, for whatever reason.6 Please 6
Piazza supports anonymous posts.
note that assessment queries, when they come, will only be answered on Piazza.
To access Piazza, click the link on Learn under ‘Course materials’, or here. We
recommend using the Learn link, which will automatically try to log you into a
Piazza account with the email @ed.ac.uk. If you have previously
used Piazza (which you likely did for LEL2A), it will automatically add you to
the Piazza instance for this course. Please check your notification settings on
Piazza if you would like to receive email updates about what is happening there.
You can also use the Piazza app on your mobile.
NB! If you have been previously using a Piazza account under a differentLE L2D : CR OS S-LIN GU IS T IC VA R I AT ION : LIMI T S & T HE OR IE S 7 email (such as @sms.ed.ac.uk), you can follow the instructions here to merge it with the one the Learn site leads you to. If you have questions about setting up Piazza, please get in touch with Pavel by email or Teams.
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