NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
JUNE/JULY 2013 EXAMINATION

COURSE CODE: ENG421

COURSE TITLE: NEW TRENDS IN SYNTAX

TIME ALLOWED: 2HRS

INSTRUCTIONS: ANSWER ANY THREE QUESTIONS

1. Using diagrammatic representations, distinguish between the Government and Binding theory and the Minimalist Program. [8 marks for each correct diagram](20 marks)
2. (a) State clearly and discuss what usually requires the last resort operation in syntactic analysis. (5 marks)

(b) Outline, with two examples for each, three possible types of the last resort operation in the Minimalist Program. (15 marks)

3. (a) Outline the phrasal categories that exist in the Minimalist Program. (5 marks)

(b) Using tree diagram, identify the phrasal category of each of these syntactic structures:

(i) The Vice Chancellor of NOUN (3 marks)

(ii) Sade made Tolu eat her food (3 marks)

(iii) Sola did not go home (3 marks)

(iv) Musa will attend the party. (3 marks)

(v) Must we write this exam? (3 marks)

4. (a) Discuss 3 types of Determiner Phrases that exist in the Minimalist Program. (6 marks)

(b) Usingthese tree diagrams, fix lexical elements to determine the type of DP each represents.

(i)        DP

D                        NP

(ii)                    DP

            D                        N

(iii)                   DP

            D                     N

                         N              CP

5. (a) Give a brief description of topicalisation in the Minimalist Program. (5 marks) [Clear usage of a tree diagram to illustrate your discussion will be an advantage to earn the full marks.]

2. Clearly contrast topicalisation with wh-movement and adjunct raising, stating the main difference between them. (10 marks)
3. Give five examples of sentences that express topicalisation in their structural make up. (5 marks)