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Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity

Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity. Gareth Price – Duke University. Rules for Lectures in Syntax. Why analyse Syntax? It tells us the structure of sentences It satisfies a curiosity about language in the same as e.g. Crosswords and, for numbers, Sudoku Drawing trees is a great party trick

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Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity

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  1. Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity Gareth Price – Duke University

  2. Rules for Lectures in Syntax

  3. Why analyse Syntax? • It tells us the structure of sentences • It satisfies a curiosity about language in the same as e.g. Crosswords and, for numbers, Sudoku • Drawing trees is a great party trick • ... and kills a few hours on the bus.

  4. What does it tell us about the structure of sentences?

  5. Recall: XP = {spec} + X’ then X’ = X + YP / YP + X (complement = necessary to the operation of the sentence) or X’ = YP + X’ / X’ + YP (adjunct = incidental to the operation of the sentence)

  6. New housing project for elderly not yet dead

  7. New housing project for elderly not yet dead Two meanings: (a) new housing project for (the) elderly (is) not yet dead (in e.g. the House) (a) new housing project (is) for (the) elderly (who are) not yet dead

  8. Two meanings: {literal} Surface structure / Phonetic Form [PF] There is a housing project for the elderly (who are not yet dead) {contextual} Deep structure / Logical form [LF] A housing project for the elderly is still viable / being discussed

  9. PF • Did you hear that whale? • LF • Did you hear that wail? • = no such thing as context-free language

  10. NP VP V’ PP N’ P’ AP A’ NPNP N’ N’ Adv.P Adv.’ AP A’ A N N V P N Neg Adv A New housing project is for elderly not yet dead

  11. NP VP V’ PP N’ P’ AP A’ NPNP N’ N’ Adv.P Adv.’ AP A’ A N N P N V Neg Adv A New housing project for elderly is not yet dead

  12. Complaints Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly

  13. Complaints Against ACC Referees [are] Growing Ugly

  14. Complaints [are] Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly

  15. [There are] Complaints Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly

  16. Recall: Case marking Canis hominem mordet Canemhominismordet

  17. EMT Team Help Dog Bite Man

  18. I shot the Sheriff with a badge

  19. I shot the Sheriff with a gun

  20. I shot the Sheriff with my boots on

  21. Flowers ate the desks with my boots

  22. Colourless green bottles sleep furiously

  23. Det. Adj. N V Adv. PP Det. N

  24. Det. Adj. N V Adv. P Det. N The acturousparplesthrustlegrimulously in the glosselthrop

  25. What does syntax learn us?

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