The following reading, which can be downloaded from the “Readings” section of this website, is optional for this week:

Pinker, Steven. 1994. The Language Instinct. Chapter 5 (‘Words, Words, Words’)

As its title suggests, the Pinker chapter illustrates various aspects of our knowledge about words and word-formation.  I had hoped to be able to discuss some of this material in lecture, but it looks like we won’t have the time.  (We are running about a half-day behind schedule.)  Nonetheless, there is some quite fascinating stuff here, so if you’re a word maven, it’ll be a worthwhile and enjoyable read.

For Wednesday 9/15, please read pages 213-230 of the following book chapter, which can be downloaded from the Readings section of this website:

Anderson, Stephen R. 2004. Doctor Dolittle’s Delusion: Animals and the Uniqueness of Human Language. Chapter 8 (‘Syntax’).

For Friday 9/10 and Monday 9/13, please read pages 198-212 of the following book chapter, which can be downloaded from the “Readings” section of this website (PDF format):

Anderson, Stephen R. 2004. Doctor Dolittle’s Delusion: Animals and the Uniqueness of Human Language. Chapter 8 (‘Syntax’).

(Note that I’ve posted the entirety of Chapter 8–we’ll read the remainder of it for next Wednesday, so feel free to print the entire file.)

Remember that the password for the “Readings” section of this website is listed on the first page of your syllabus.

For Wednesday, Sept. 8, please read the brief excerpts from Chomsky 1957 Syntactic Structures and Chomsky 1965 Aspects of the Theory of Syntax, which I distributed at the end of our first class meeting.  (There are  extra copies in the mailbox by my office door @ 621 Comm. Ave, #110.)  On Wednesday, we’ll talk about some of the basic distinctions made in those readings, such as meaningfulness vs. grammaticality, and competence vs. performance.