RONGO UNIVESRSITY

DEPARTMENT OF LINGUISTICS, LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

COURSE OUTLINE

COURSE CODE: LIN 222 COURSE TITLE: ENGLISH SYNTAX

Year of study: 2 Semester: 2 Academic year: 2021/2022

Credit hours: 3

Course Lecturer: Tom Mboya Otieno Mobile: 0736199398 email: tmboya.to@gmail.com

i. Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to give learners a thorough understanding of syntax as a level of language analysis and
its relationship with other levels.

ii. Course Objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

1. Introduce learners to the basic concepts of English syntax
2. Introduce learners to the structure of modern English phrase
3. Make explicit the various elements that constitute the different types of English phrases
iii. Learning Outcomes of the Course

1. Understand the structure of the modern English phrase within the structural model of grammar
2. Work as editors and writers of English texts
3. Do research in English and linguistics studies
4. Effectively construct English sentences in which the various constituent structures are appropriately used.
iv. Course Content

S/ TOPIC AREAS TO COVER WEEK HOURS

NO
1 Introduction a) Categories 1-2 6
b) Constituents
c) Complements
d) Modifiers
2 The general overview of a a) Definition of a phrase 3 3
phrase b) Structure, rank, meaning
c) Characteristics of a phrase
3 The nominal group a) Definition of a noun phrase 4-5 6
b) Types of nouns, pronouns and
nominalization
c) The structure of a noun phrase
d) The function of a noun phrase: subject,
object, complement and appositive
e) Pre-modifiers of a noun: determiners-
articles, demonstratives, possessive
determiners and quantifiers
f) Post-modifiers of a noun: adverbs and
adjectives
4 Continuous Assessment Test 1 a) Topics 1, 2 and 3 6 1
5 The verb phrase a) The definition of a verb phrase 6-8 6
b) The structure of a verb phrase: simple,
compound and complex
c) Lexical verbs as head word in a VP
d) Auxiliary verbs in a VP: primary and
modal auxiliaries
e) Time, aspect, tense and mood
f) Finite and non-finite VPs
6 The adverbial phrase a) The definition of an adverbial phrase 9-10 6
b) The structure of an adverbial phrase
c) Types of adverbials: adjuncts, conjuncts
and disjuncts
d) Adjuncts of manner, place, time, degree
e) Positional constraints
7 The adjectival phrase a) The definition of an adjective phrase 11-12 5
b) Functions of an adjective phrase
c) The structure of an adjective phrase
d) Pre-modifiers of adjectives
e) Post-modifiers of adjectives
8 Continuous Assessment Test 2 Topics 5, 6 and 7 12 1
9 The prepositional phrase a) The definition of a prepositional phrase 13 5
b) The structure of a PP
c) Functions of a PP
d) Classification of PPs: time, place, position
and relation
e) Prepositional phrases as adjuncts,
disjuncts and conjuncts

The course aims at introducing learners to the structure of the Modern English Phrase.

v. Teaching/Learning Strategies

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Class discussions
• Presentations
• E-learning

vi. Instructional Materials and Equipment

LCD projectors, Chalkboards/whiteboards, Resource persons, Internet Sources

vii. Course Monitoring/Evaluation

• Students class attendance register

• Supervision, student’s evaluation of the course lecturer at the end of the course
• Students’ progress reports
• External examiners reports
• External and internal auditors` reports
viii. Course Assessment

The assessment of this course shall include:

• Continuous Assessment Tests 30
• End of semester examination 70
• Total 100
ix. Core Reference Materials

1. Bauke, L. S. (2014). Symmetry Breaking in Syntax and the Lexicon. Amsterdam: John Benjamins
Publishing Company.

2. Chomsky, N. (2015). Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (50th ed.). Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

3. Gianollo, C., Jäger, A., & Penka, D. (Eds.). (2015). Language Change at the Syntax-Semantics Interface.
Berlin: De Gruyter

4. Kreyer, R. (2012). Introduction to English Syntax. Brussels: Peter Lang

5. McCabe, A. (2017). An Introduction to Linguistics and Language Studies (2nd ed.). Sheffield: Equinox
Publishing.

6. Tallerman, M. (2015). Understanding syntax. London: Routledge.

Recommended reading texts

1. Andrew, C. (2001). Syntax. Oxford: Blackwell

2. Andrew, R. (1988). Transformational Grammar: A First Course. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

3. Chomsky, N. (1957). Syntactic Structures. The Hague: Mouton.

4. Chomsky, N. (1965). Aspects of the Theory Syntax. Massachusetts: MIT Press.

5. Jong-bok. K., & Peter, S. (2008). English Syntax: An introduction. Stanford, California: CSLI Publications.

Course lecturer: Tom Mboya Otieno Signature Date:

Approval comments by HoD