Spring 2008

LIN 392 • Reading and Writing Grammars

Course Description

The object of this course is to analyze what makes a good grammar. A set of about five grammars will be chosen to read and analyze, from the perspectives of general readability, completeness, usefulness for looking up specific information, usefulness for comparative/typological information, and usefulness for speakers. Several evaluative problems involving the selected grammars will be assigned. Additional topics will cover sources for linguistic questionnaires and elicitation sessions, how to collect and analyze texts, and what are the uses of elicited material and text material in grammar writing. A final paper will be assigned, and can be on one of two different topics: 1) for those students who already have data that they are in the process of analyzing, the final paper will consist of a detailed outline of a grammar plus several representative sections; and 2) for those students who do not have data that they are in the process of analyzing, the final paper will consist of a thorough critique of a grammar (not one of the ones assigned for class), with a reworked outline and several representative sections.

Texts

No textbooks.

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