Formal Approaches to Natural Language

Master 2023/2024

Type: Compulsory course (Applied Linguistics and Text Analytics)

Area of studies: Fundamental and Applied Linguistics

Delivered by: School of Fundamental and Applied Linguistics

Where: Faculty of Humanities (Nizhny Novgorod)

When: 1 year, 2 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Natalia Morozova

Master’s programme: Прикладная лингвистика и текстовая аналитика

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 28

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

The course introduces students to the theoretical foundations and applied aspects of formal modeling in linguistics. The first part of the course is theoretical. It is meant to familiarize students with both linguistic and non-linguistics background with the general issues of linguistics methodology, the history and state-of-the-art of structural macro-paradigm in linguistics and the formal apparatus of linguistic analysis. The second, practice-oriented part of the course provides students with the applied skills of formal modeling in syntax. Students learn about the possibility of using formal modeling in machine learning, automated text analysis and corpus linguistics. The course is taught in the 2st module of the 1st year of studies. The skills obtained within the framework of the course are important prerequisites for such courses as 'Automated Analysis of Natural Language' and the research seminar 'Methodology and Research Methods in Applied Linguistics'.

Learning Objectives

The course aims to familiarise students with formal syntactic theories and applied techniques of modelling natural language
The course aims to help students develop an ability to apply the methods and techniques of formal modelling in their own research

Expected Learning Outcomes

Describes a segment of speech using a syntactic formalism
Discusses the advantages and limitations of structural linguistics
Discusses the advantages and limitations of formal approaches to natural language

Course Contents

General methodological problems in linguistics. Internal and external factors paving the way for the development of formal approaches.
Structural linguistics: emergence, main premises and schools. Advantages and limitations of the structural approach.
Theories of formal syntax: dependency grammar, constituency grammar. Advantages and limitations of formal approaches.
N.Chomsky's transformational-generative grammar

Assessment Elements

Written In-class Exam
Attendance and Participation
Oral Exam

Interim Assessment

2023/2024 2nd module
0.15 * Attendance and Participation + 0.5 * Oral Exam + 0.35 * Written In-class Exam

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Jurij D. Apresjan, & Dina B. Crockett. (2018). Principles and Methods in Contemporary Structural Linguistics: Vol. Reprint 2018. De Gruyter Mouton.
Введение в языкознание, учебное пособие, 13-е изд., стер., 229 с., Камчатнов, А. М., Николина, Н. А., 2018

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Carnie, A. (2012). Syntax : A Generative Introduction (Vol. 3rd ed). Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=531592
Saumjan, S. K., & Miller, J. (2017). Principles of Structural Linguistics. De Gruyter Mouton.
Введение в языкознание, учебник для академического бакалавриата, Нижегородский государственный университет им. Н. И. Лобачевского, 2-е изд., перераб. и доп., 494 с., Немченко, В. Н., 2016

Authors

MOROZOVA Nataliia NIKOLAEVNA

Course Syllabus