The University of Arizona offers an in depth graduate program in syntactic and semantic theory. Set in the spectacular Sonoran desert, Tucson offers unmatched opportunities for research as well as recreation. The relevant departments offer a broad spectrum of course work and research opportunities for the study of sentence structure from a variety of perspectives including Generative (Minimalist) ones. We are particularly proud of the interdisciplinary opportunities for students interested in disciplines like linguistics, psychology, anthropology, speech, first or second language acquisition, and cognitive science. Students interested in any area of sentence structure are strongly encouraged to apply.
Students take courses & seminars in all areas of Syntactic and Semantic theory, including in-depth courses into Generative grammar, and other theories such as HPSG and Categorial grammar, as well as classes in formal and lexical semantics. In addition, candidates in our graduate program are exposed to a broad area of classes in other subdisciplines of linguistics. Interdisciplinary work is also encouraged with researchers focusing on sentence processing, the acquisition of syntax, and the neurological aspects of syntax. The study of Indigenous languages of the Americas and Spanish are additional specialties of the program.
Sample Research Tracks
- Theoretical Syntax
- Syntax and Semantics
- Syntax and Morphology
- Native American Syntax
- Spanish Syntax
- Syntax and Sentence Processing
- Syntax and Neurolinguistics
- Syntax and Acquisition
- Celtic Syntax
- Indo-Iranian Syntax
- Diachronic Syntax
Faculty with A Primary emphasis on Syntax
Andrew Barss, Assoc. Prof. (Ph.D. MIT 1986) Anaphora & binding; long-distance extraction; architecture of the grammatical system, performance theories. (Department of Linguistics)
Andrew Carnie, Assoc. Prof. (Ph.D.
MIT 1995) Predication,
Case, copular constructions, morphosyntax,
phrase structure, verb initial syntax,
Celtic. (Department of Linguistics)
Sheila Dooley Collberg, Lecturer, (Ph.D. Lund, 1991) Syntax, Computation, Typology, Celtic. (Department of Linguistics)
Sandiway Fong, Asst. Prof. (Ph.D. MIT 1991) Linguistics, Computer Science
Heidi Harley, Assoc. Prof. (Ph.D. MIT 1995) Case, argument structure, aspect, morphology, lexical semantics, formal semantics, Hiaki Syntax. (Department of Linguistics)
Eloise Jelinek, Adj Assoc. Prof. (Ph.D. U. Arizona 1981) Universals, quantification, topic/focus, Native American syntax. (Department of Linguistics)
Simin Karimi, Assoc. Prof.(Ph.D. UWash 1989) scrambling, argument structure, DP syntax, complex predicates, Persian syntax. (Department of Linguistics)
D. Terence Langendoen, Prof. (Ph.D. MIT 1964) syntax and semantics of reciprocity, coordination and its relation to subordination. (Department of Linguistics)
Mario Montalbetti, Assoc. Prof. (Ph.D. MIT 1984) referential dependencies, binding theory, conceptual issues in generativism, Spanish. (Department of Spanish and Portuguese)
Antxon Olarrea. Assoc. Prof. (PhD. UWash 1996) syntactic theory; Spanish; word order & agreement typologies (Department of Spanish and Portuguese)
Mary Willie, Assoc. Prof. (Ph.D. U.Arizona 1991) Navajo morphosyntax, obviation, object pronouns. (Department of Linguistics)
Other Faculty with syntactic interests
- Tom Bever (Sentence Processing)
- Merrill Garrett (Production)
- Kenneth Forster (Lexical and Syntactic processing)
- LouAnn Gerken (Acquisition)
- Robert Harnish (Semantics)
- Feng-Hsi Liu (Semantics)
- Cecil McKee (Acquisition of Syntax)
- Janet Nicol (Sentence Processing)
- Rudy Troike (Native American, SLA)
- Linda Waugh (lexical Semantics)
