Linguistic typology is the study of how languages differ and how
they are alike in terms of their formal features, as opposed to
their genetic affiliation or areal distribution.  This course will
focus on various syntactic and morphological features of languages.
We will primarily look at those typological properties that have
been studied most intensively over the last forty years.  Students
will be expected to critique articles from the literature.  They
will also be asked to "adopt" a non-Indoeuropean language (not
native to them) and learn, write, and present about it in some
detail.

Text: Whaley, L.J. 1997. Introduction to Typology: The Unity and
Diversity of Languages.

Selected Readings