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This is a seminar for BA-students only.
In this seminar we will study a selection of topics in the syntax of noun phrases and nominalisation. First, we will discuss the general structure of noun phrases and the type of constituents that have to be accommodated in a DP (1).
(1) Jen’s every few moves in Washington (were monitored by the FBI)
possessor > quantifier > adjectival quantifier > noun > PP-complement/adjunct
Then we will discuss the syntax of modifiers within the DP, particularly adjectives and relative clauses. The former can be stacked with a fixed order (see 2). Adjective can also occur post-nominally if they have complements (3a) or if they are reduced relative clauses (3b). The questions to be explored here are how reduced relatives differ interpretively and syntactically from prenominal adjectives (3c) and from regular relative clauses (3d).
(2) a beautiful big red woollen Swiss ball
evaluative > size > colour > material > provenance > noun
(3) a. a man [fat around the waist], •a [fat around the waist] man
b. the jewels stolen, the stars visible
c. the stolen jewels, the visible star
d. the jewels that were stolen, the stars which are visible
Finally, we will turn to nominalisations, focusing on the different properties of complex event nominals (4a), nominal gerunds (4b) and verbal gerunds (4c).
(4) a. Mary’s quick revision of the book
b. Mary’s quick revising of the book
c. Mary’s/Mary revising the book quickly
Register online (via WUSEL) during the official registration period of the department.
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Anmelden