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Unit 8 SYNTAX

Unit 8 SYNTAX. CONTENTS infiniteness hierarchical structuring constituent types phrase types phrasal units (head, specifier , c omplements,modifiers ). Syntax.

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Unit 8 SYNTAX

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  1. Unit8 SYNTAX

  2. CONTENTS • infiniteness • hierarchical structuring • constituent types • phrase types • phrasal units (head, specifier, complements,modifiers)

  3. Syntax the component of the grammar [which investigates] the system of rules and categories that underlies sentence formation in human language

  4. The version of syntactic analysis in this course Transformational Syntax

  5. Nature of Sentences

  6. Infiniteness

  7. Infinitenessin number (unlimited number of sentences)

  8. Infinitenessin length (indefinitely long sentences)

  9. Do you know I guess ed what happened next atthe match? No place like home

  10. Hierarchical Structure (increasingly larger units / several levels)

  11. The duck bit the burglar

  12. Level 4 The duck bit the burglar 1 constituent Level 3 Theduck bit theburglar 2 constituents bit theburglar Theduck Level 2 3 constituents burglar The duck bit the 5 constituents Level 1

  13. Types of Constituents

  14. Word-level Constituents single words (the, duck, bit, the, burglar) the: determiner duck, burglar: noun bit: verb

  15. Phrase Level Constituents larger units with an internal structure the duck (NP) the burglar (NP) bit the burglar (VP)

  16. Phrase Types

  17. VPVerb Phrase eat an apple eat well eat

  18. NPNoun Phrase books the books many books the books on the table

  19. APAdjective Phrase nice very nice very nice of you

  20. PP Prepositional Phrase on the desk to the door over the wall in

  21. AdvP Adverb Phrase very slowly slowly

  22. Phrasal Units -Head -Specifier -Complement -Modifier

  23. Head the most important word the picture in the book (NP) write a letter hastily (VP) over the fence (PP) very urgent(AP)

  24. the phrase is built around the head NP head: a noun VP head: a verb AP head: an adjective PP head: a preposition

  25. The head: • is a single word • is compulsory • (the only one: single word phrases) • Men (NP) • rude (AP) • There is only one head in a phrase. • A given word can be the head of onephraseonly .

  26. She is certain. AP A certain

  27. He went in. PP P in

  28. Specifiers (Det, Deg, Qual) Semantically, specifiers help to make more precise the meaning of the head. thebooks(a specific set of books) books (books in general) Syntactically, specifiers typically mark a phrase boundary. In English, specifiers occur at the left boundary (the beginning) of their respective phrases

  29. Specifier categories Determiner (Det) the, a, this, these (articles & demonstratives) Degree word (Deg) too, so, very, most, quite, almost (traditionally adverbs / always before the head) Qualifier (Qual) always, perhaps, often, never, (traditionally adverbs / always before the head)

  30. NP N Det the books

  31. VP V Qual never eat

  32. AP A Deg quite certain

  33. PP P Deg almost in

  34. Typical specifier functions of syntactic categories Det: specifier of N the house, a pen, this book, those houses) Qual: specifier of V never say, perhaps do, often go, always eat) Deg: specifier of A and P very good, quite young, more interesting, almost in

  35. Complements • Complements : • are themselves phrases / multiple complements • [put the book on the table]VP • 2. Complements are attached to the right of the head in English. • 3. Their existence is implied by the meaning of the head. • put: object (NP) / location (PP) NP PP

  36. 4. Strong syntactic frames put somethingsomewhere fond of…. a story about….. 5. Omission of complements results in ungrammaticality. *put *put on the table *put the book

  37. VP NP Qual V Det N hamburger never a eat

  38. NP PP NP N Det N P Det the war the about books

  39. PP NP Deg P Det N house almost the in

  40. AP PP NP Deg A P N Mary quite about certain

  41. Complement Options

  42. Verbs 1.  (zero complement) (intransitive) The child vanished__ 2. NP(transitive) The professor proved [NPthe theorem]. 3. AP The man became [APvery angry]. 4. PP The dog dashed [PPto the door].

  43. NP NP (ditransitive) • We handed [NPthe man] [NPa map]. • 6. NP PP • She gave [NPa certificate] [PP to the student]. • 7. PP PP • I talked [PPto a doctor] [PPabout Sue].

  44. Nouns 1.  (zero complement) the car__ 2. PP the memory [PPof a friend] 3. PP PP the presentation [PPof a medal] [PPto the winner]

  45. Adjectives 1.  (zero complement) very tall__ 2. PP curious [PPabout China]

  46. Prepositions 1.  (zero complement) He got down__ 2. NP in [NP the house] 3. PP down [PPinto the cellar]

  47. Modifiers • Modifiers : • are themselves phrases / multiple modifiers • [a very difficult question] NP • [sittingquietlyfor an hour] VP • (only APs, PPs, AdvPs can be modifiers.) • 2. Modifierscan precede or follow the head in English. • before the head: pre-modifier • after the head: post-modifier AP AdvP PP

  48. 3. Theyencode optionally expressible properties of heads / extra information / not implied by the head sitdoesnotimplymanner (quietly) / duration (for an hour) 4. Omission of modifiers does not result inungrammaticality. sit sit quietly sit for an hour

  49. Noun Modifiers (APs) [A very tall man] walked into the room. She made [exceptional progress].

  50. Verb Modifiers a) AdvPs Helen [proceeded carefully]. (manner) We [arrived early]. (time) b) PPs Helen [proceeded with care]. (manner) He [stayed for three days]. (time)

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