LING 106: Introduction to Formal Linguistics

Instructor: Lance Nathan
613 Williams Hall
nathanla@ling.upenn.edu
Office Hours: by appointment


The syllabus in PDF format (also handed out on the first day of class)

Course Description

The goal of this course is to define certain formal properties that underlie the architecture of language. To this end, mathematical tools are provided that help us understand and classify the complex structures and rules that constitute language and grammar. These tools include set theory, propositional logic, information theory, formal language theory, automata theory, as well as a brief introduction to the semantics of natural language.

Readings and Texts

Textbook: None. Handouts to be made available.

Requirements and Grade

Homework assignments (weekly): 60% (total)
Homework assignments must be in my possession by the end of class on the due date.

Midterm and final exams: 30%

Attendance and class participation: 10%

Violations of academic integrity will be taken seriously!
It is your responsibility to understand the University's policy.
See your Class Handbook, the university's website, etc.

Organization and Outline of the Course

Mathematical background
Week 1: Lecture NotesHomework 1Answers
1. Formal Reasoning: Shapes
2. Set Theory
I. Isolating linguistic units
Week 2: Lecture NotesHomework 2Answers
3. Lexical Analysis
4. The Lexicon and Harris's Conditions
Week 3: Lecture NotesHomework 3Answers and Supplement
5. Ciphers
6. Linear B
Offsite link: The Cypriot syllabary
Offsite link: The Linear B syllabary (and logograms)
II. Syntax (and Phonology): building strings of units
Week 4: Lecture NotesHomework 4Answers
7. Syntax: The Basics
8. Deterministic Finite-State Automata
Week 5: Lecture Notes (above) — Slides from class and supplementary slides
8. (cont.)
9. Regular Languages and Regular Operations
Midterm
Week 6: Lecture Notes and supplementary slides
10. Non-Deterministic Finite-State Automata
Week 7: Lecture NotesHomework 5Answers
11. The Pumping Lemma
12. Beyond Regular Grammars
Week 8: Lecture Notes and supplementary slides
13. Syntax Done Right
14. Phonology and finite state transducers
III. Semantics: interpreting the meaning of strings of units
Week 9: Lecture NotesHomework 6Answers
15. Propositional Logic
16. Predicate Logic
17. Pragmatics
Final Exam