An algorithmic approach to verb phrase construction

Welcome back from Easter break. Class April 14 by K. Titchenell - Tuesday, 13 April 2010, 08:44 AM

Dear Scholars, I hope you all had a wonderful and productive Easter break. Over the break I posted a new page on our site: An algorithmic approach to verb phrase construction. We may play with this a little in class tomorrow if there is interest. It presents a step-by-step formula for creating perfect, progressive and passive constructs in any combination. I have been working on a new online education site and am posting lectures there for the purpose of language study. Here is one superb example I just found yesterday: The Death of Criticism. Note: This lecture is posted purely for its language, not for any ideological message contained in it. Please listen to as much of it as you have patience for. Description: Prolific author and literary critic Terry Eagleton speaks at UC Berkely on "the death of criticm." Professor of English Literature at the University of Lancaster, and Visiting Professor at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Dr. Eagleton is probably best known for his "Literary Theory: An Introduction". During this hour, Professor Eagleton demonstrates how unscripted speech may rival in its sophistication practically any highly polished and edited prose. Listening to lectures such as this will do more for your proficiency with English language than any quantity of grammar or vocabulary study. Difficulty level: 8/10 Dialect: British (RP) English Points to look for: one use of "criterion" which should be "criteria". See you all tomorrow.