intro to syntax query

[Alice Vittrant]

Dear Shannon, dear funknetters,

- Teaching syntax in a Linguistic Department in Université de  
Porvence, I (and my colleagues) use different books (french and  
english ones).
For non native english speaker, I would recommand Paul R.KROEGER's  
books ("Analyzing grammar : an introduction" and "Analyzing Syntax" -  
CAMBRIDGE) although it is more 'practical' than 'theorical' (with  
exercices at the end of each chapter).

Alice Vittrant


Le 23 avr. 09 à 21:11, s.t. bischoff a écrit :

> Hi all,
>
> My department is developing an "Introduction to Syntax" course. We  
> are an
> English department made up of about 8 Applied linguists with one
> Sociolinguists and myself (trained in generative syntax and   
> Anthropological
> Linguistics). Our students are ESL and EFL with various degrees of  
> fluency
> (the dominate language is Spanish). The course will be for second  
> and third
> year students with perhaps one introduction to linguistics course  
> and no
> other linguistic experience. It will be taught in English. Our  
> graduates
> tend to matriculate into our MA program where they study Applied-  
> or Socio-
> Linguistics and generally go on to teach English in the public  
> schools here
> in Puerto Rico. A few do go on to get PhDs in Applied or  
> Sociolinguistics.
> My personal feeling is that to meet the needs of our students and our
> community, that we should should have a "theory-neutral" (as much  
> as that
> might be possible) general introductory course...when I say neutral  
> I am
> thinking of the work of Noel Burton-Roberts "Analysing Sentences: An
> Introduction to English Syntax"  (I realize we cannot teach a  
> "theory" free
> course, but I hope the spirit of the comment is clear). We have one  
> member
> who is strongly in favor of a "theoretical syntax" course instead  
> in the
> spirit of the Generative Program, and would like us to adopt "Simpler
> Syntax" as the textbook.  With that bit of background I would like  
> to ask:
>
> 1) Would anyone be kind enought to send a syllabus or two they have  
> used or
> are familiar with for any type of "introduction to syntax" course for
> undergraduates in the second year with  little or no background in
> linguistics;
>
> 2) Does anyone have any thoughts on what content such a course should
> include (an introductory "general" or "theoretical" syntax course);
>
> 3) Does anyone have arguments for or against a "General Syntax"  
> course vs. a
> "Theoretical Syntax" course at the introductory level;
>
> 4) Any suggestions on introductory syntax books that have worked
> particularly well?
>
> Thank you for time,
> Shannon

-------------------
Alice Vittrant
Université de Provence
CNRS-LACITO
vittrant at vjf.cnrs.fr