The gift of limits: syntax, brains and machines.(PhD)

seminar presentation accompanied by an introduction with bibliography (30/30)

The topics for assessment will be chosen jointly by the student and the teacher and will also take into account parallel interests and specific skills while, of course, being relevant to the general topic covered in the course.

There are no pre-requisites for this course, except for a basic preparation in high-school canonical linguistics concepts.

One of the most important discoveries in contemporary linguistics is that not all conceivable grammars are realized in the world's languages. Where does this restriction come from? Is it a consequence of the formal properties of grammars or of the neurobiological structure that allows their expression? What is the impact on human communication and language learning? We will address two separate hypotheses: that of "impossible languages" and that of "impossible grammars," showing how neurobiological and formal aspects, respectively, allow us to characterize these two notions. The course will be enriched by the critical reading of classical texts and preceded by a series of lectures that provide a concise introduction to formal syntax. Finally, we will understand how the theory of impossible languages ​​is crucial for establishing a non-subjective difference between the grammars of human languages ​​and those developed by machines based on Large Language Models (LLMs).During the course, additional questions that the students find interesting will be considered, also taking into account the different backgrounds and education of those participating.

Obligatory reference texts:

1. Chomsky, N. – Moro, A. (2023) "The secrets of words", MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
2. Moro, A. (2015) "The boundaries of Babel. The brain and the enigma of impossible languages" (II ed), The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
3. Moro, A. (2024) "Parlo dunque sono. Istantanee sul linguaggio" (II ed.), Adelphi, Milano; partial italian translation "I speak therefore I am", Columbia University Press, NYC, NY.

Accompanying texts that can be chosen and consulted, depending on the student's interests, background and level of preparation:

1. Berwick, R. – Chomsky, N. (2015) "Why only us", MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts; trad. it Perché solo noi, 2016, Boringhieri, Torino.
2. Bonomi, A. (1973/2001) "La struttura logica del linguaggio", Bompiani, Milano.
3. Demi, M. – Helong, T. (2024) "The development of Chomskyan generative grammar: from Standard Theory to the Minimalist Program", Taylor & Francis, Routledge, New York.
4. Everaert. M - van Riemsdijk, H. (eds.) (2017) "The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Syntax", 2nd Edition, Wiley Blackwell, London.
5. Friederici, A. (2017) "Language in our brain", MIT Press, Cambridge, MA.
6. Geach, P. Th. (1962) "Reference and Generality", Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY.
7. Graffi, G. (2001) "200 Years of Syntax. A critical survey", John Benjamins, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
8. Greenberg, J. (ed.) (1963) "Universals of Language",x The MIT Press, pp. 73-113, Cambridge, MA.
9. Haegeman, L. (1994) "Introduction to Government and Binding Theory", II edition, Blackwell, Oxford (freely available on line).
10. Hale, K. - Keyser, J. (2002) Prolegomenon to a theory of argument structure, Linguistic Inquiry Monograph, 39, MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
11. Hjelmslev, L. (1943) Omkring sprogteoriens grundlæggelse, Festskrift udg. af Københavns Universitet; trad. ingl. Prolegomena to a theory of Language, 1953, University of Winsconsin; trad. it. dall’inglese e introduzione a cura di Lepschy, G. (1987) I fondamenti della teoria del linguaggio, II ed. riv., Einaudi, Torino.
12. Jespersen, O. (1924) "The Philosophy of Grammar", Allen & Unwin, London.
13. Lobina, D. (2017) "Recursion. A Computational Investigation into the Representation and Processing of Language", Oxford Studies in Biolinguistics, Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.
14. Moro, A. (1997) "The Raising of Predicates: Predicative Noun Phrases and the Theory of Clause Structure", Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
15. Moro, A. (2000) "Dynamic Antisymmetry", Linguistic Inquiry Monograph Series 38, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
16. Morpurgo Davies, A. (1996) "La linguistica dell’Ottocento", Il Mulino, Bologna; Engl. transl (1998) “Nineteen-Century linguistics”, History of Linguistics Series (Lepschy – Morpurgo Davies, eds.). Vol. IV, Longman Linguistics Library, Routledge, New York City, NY.
17. Murphy, E. (2020) "The oscillatory nature of language", Cambridge University Press, UK.

NB: during the course, additional bibliographical sources will be indicated, also in relation to questions that arise during the lessons.