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Syntax

Syntax. All native speakers of a language are able to produce and comprehend an unlimited number of sentences. Syntax. All native speakers of a language are able to produce and comprehend an unlimited number of sentences.

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Syntax

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  1. Syntax • All native speakers of a language are able to produce and comprehend an unlimited number of sentences.

  2. Syntax • All native speakers of a language are able to produce and comprehend an unlimited number of sentences. • All the passengers on the plane, which is flying to Pago-Pago, would rather not listen to Abbot and Costello.

  3. Syntax • All native speakers of a language are able to produce and comprehend an unlimited number of sentences. • It is furthermore, not a question of memorizing all the possible sentences in the English language, otherwise, how could you understand new sentences you never heard before?

  4. Syntax • Speakers of a language are able to make intuitive judgments about sentences:

  5. Syntax • Speakers of a language are able to make intuitive judgments about sentences: • The dog bit the horse. • Dog the horse the bit

  6. Syntax • Speakers of a language are able to make intuitive judgments about sentences: • The dog bit the horse. • Dog the horse the bit • Without giving grammatical explanations, any native speaker of English can determine that the first example is correct.

  7. Syntax • This intuitive skill is a reflection of our linguistic competence, as opposed to our linguistic performance

  8. Syntax • Competence vs. Performance

  9. Syntax • Competence vs. Performance • Real speech (Performance) is marked by lapses, memory gaps, coughs, “umms” and “uhs”, etc.

  10. Syntax • Competence vs. Performance • Real speech (Performance) is marked by lapses, memory gaps, coughs, “umms” and “uhs”, etc. • Our competence is much more consistent.

  11. Syntax • Structural ambiguity: • In languages which depend on word order, the syntax may not lead to perfect understanding.

  12. Syntax • Structural ambiguity: • The mother of the boy and the girl will arrive soon.

  13. Syntax • Structural ambiguity: • The mother of the boy and the girl will arrive soon. • Such a sentence needs further clarification.

  14. Syntax • Structural ambiguity: • The mother of the boy and the girl will arrive soon. • Such a sentence needs further clarification. • The mother of the boy and girl is arriving soon. • The mother of the boy and the girl are arriving soon • The mother of the boy and the girl will arrive soon, won’t she? • The mother of the boy and the girl will arrive soon, won’t they?

  15. Syntax • Structural ambiguity: • The mother of the boy and the girl will arrive soon. • Or, meaning can be gathered through context, for example, if you knew you were talking about a certain group of people, further clarification probably wouldn’t be needed.

  16. Syntax • In studying syntax, a linguist tries to state explicitly the grammar rules of a given language - beyond what might be taught in a grammar book.

  17. Syntax • Example: the English question rule...

  18. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-I • John can lift 500 pounds.

  19. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-I • John can lift 500 pounds. • 1 2 3 4 5

  20. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-I • John can lift 500 pounds. • 1 2 3 4 5 • Reverse the order of words 1 and 2

  21. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-I • John can lift 500 pounds. • 1 2 3 4 5 • Reverse the order of words 1 and 2 • Can John lift 500 pounds?

  22. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-I • Yesterday John could lift 500 pounds. • 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Reverse the order of words 1 and 2

  23. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-I • Yesterday John could lift 500 pounds. • 1 2 3 4 5 6 • Reverse the order of words 1 and 2 • John yesterday could lift 500 pounds.

  24. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-II • To form a sentence from a delcarative sentence, place the first verb at the beginning of the sentence

  25. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-II • To form a sentence from a delcarative sentence, place the first verb at the beginning of the sentence • Could yesterday John lift 500 pounds?

  26. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-II • To form a sentence from a delcarative sentence, place the first verb at the beginning of the sentence • Could yesterday John lift 500 pounds? • Close, but no cigar… also what about: • Know you those women?

  27. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-III • Place the auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence • If there is no auxiliary verb, place an appropriate form of the verb “do” at the beginning of the sentence

  28. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-III • Place the auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence • If there is no auxiliary verb, place an appropriate form of the verb “do” at the beginning of the sentence • Do you know those women?

  29. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-III • What about sentences with two auxiliary verbs?

  30. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-III • What about sentences with two auxiliary verbs? • John will have left.

  31. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-IV • Place the first auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence...

  32. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-IV • Place the first auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence… • Will John have left

  33. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-IV • Place the first auxiliary verb at the beginning of the sentence… • Will John have left • Works fine for simple sentences, but what about: The people who were saying that John is sick will leave soon.

  34. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-V • Locate the first auxiliary verb that follows the subject and place it at the beginning of the sentence

  35. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-V • Locate the first auxiliary verb that follows the subject and place it at the beginning of the sentence • Yesterday John could lift 500 pounds. • Could yesterday John lift 500 pounds? • Yesterday could John lift 500 pounds?

  36. Syntax • Example: the English question rule… • QR-VI • Take the first auxiliary verb and place it immediately to the left of the subject • Yesterday could John lift 500 pounds?

  37. Syntax • The notion of subject

  38. Syntax • The notion of subject • The farmer fed the ducklings

  39. Syntax • The notion of subject • The farmer fed the ducklings

  40. Syntax • The notion of subject • The farmer fed the ducklings • In declarative sentences, subject generally precedes the main and auxiliary verb.

  41. Syntax • The notion of subject • Did The farmer feed the ducklings? • In declarative sentences, subject generally precedes the main and auxiliary verb. • It forms the constituent around which an auxiliary is fronted in forming a questions

  42. Syntax • The notion of subject • The farmer feeds the ducklings, does he? • In declarative sentences, subject generally precedes the main and auxiliary verb. • It forms the constituent around which an auxiliary is fronted in forming a questions • It is the constituent with which a pronoun in a tag agrees in person, number and gender.

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