The primary goal of this paper is to develop an Optimality Theory (Prince and Smolensky 1993/2004) analysis of the root and pattern morphology of Coptic. Coptic (spoken ca. 300-1300 C.E.) was the last stage of the Ancient Egyptian language, and its root and pattern morphology has not previously been analyzed from a synchronic perspective. Specifically, I aim to determine whether the consonantal...

This paper reports on a course whose aim is to introduce Formal Language Theory to students with little formal background (mostly linguistics students). The course was first taught at the European Summer School for Logic, Language and Information to a mixed audience of students, undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate, with various backgrounds. The challenges of teaching such a course include ...