Grammar of a Less Familiar Language

The word 'Welcome' written in Kurdish.

"Khoosh Hati"--"Welcome" in Kurdish. (Image provided by MIT OpenCourseWare.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

24.942

As Taught In

Spring 2003

Level

Graduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

Course Features

Course Highlights

This course includes student-generated lecture notes and a methodology statement provided by instructors.

Course Description

This course is designed to allow participants to engage in the exploration of the grammatical structure of a language that is unknown to them (and typically to the instructors as well). In some ways it simulates traditional field methods research. In terms of format, we work in both group and individual meetings with the consultant. Each student identifies some grammatical construction (e.g. wh questions, agreement, palatalization, interrogative intonation) to focus their research: they elicit and share data and write a report on the material gathered that is to be turned in at the end of the term. Ideally, we can put together a volume of grammatical sketches.

The first three to four weeks of the term, our group meetings will explore the basic phonology, morphology and surface syntax for a first pass overview of the language, looking for interesting areas to be explored in more detail later. During this period individual sessions can review material from the general session as well as explore new areas. At roughly the fifth meeting, individual students (typically two to three per session) guide the group elicitations to explore their research topic.

Related Content

Michael Kenstowicz, and Norvin Richards. 24.942 Grammar of a Less Familiar Language. Spring 2003. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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