unit 8 syntax
DESCRIPTION
Unit 8 SYNTAX. CONTENTS infiniteness hierarchical structuring constituent types phrase types phrasal units (head, specifier , c omplements,modifiers ). Syntax. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Unit 8
SYNTAX
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CONTENTS
infiniteness
hierarchical structuring
constituent types
phrase types
phrasal units (head, specifier,
complements,modifiers)
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the component of the grammar [which
investigates] the system of rules and
categories that underlies sentence sentence
formationformation in human language
SyntaSyntaxx
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The version of syntactic analysis in this course
Transformational SyntaxTransformational Syntax
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Nature of SentencesNature of Sentences
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InfinitenesInfinitenesss
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InfinitenessInfiniteness in number in number
(unlimited number of sentences)
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InfinitenessInfiniteness in length in length
(indefinitely long sentences)
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whathappenednextguessIyou knowDo
at the match?
ed
No place like home
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Hierarchical Structure Hierarchical Structure
(increasingly larger units / several levels)
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The duck bit the burglar
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The
duck bit the burglarThe duck bit the burglarThe duck bit the burglar
The duck bit the burglar
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
5 constituents
3 constituents
2 constituents
1 constituent
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Types of ConstituentsTypes of Constituents
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Word-level Word-level ConstituentsConstituentssingle words
(the, duck, bit, the,
burglar)
the: determiner
duck, burglar: noun
bit: verb14
Phrase Level ConstituentsPhrase Level Constituents
larger units with an internal
structure
the duck (NP)
the burglar (NP)
bit the burglar (VP)
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Phrase TypesPhrase Types
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VP Verb Phrase
eat an appleeat welleat
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NP Noun Phrase
booksthe books many books the books on the table
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AP Adjective Phrase
nice very nicevery nice of you
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PP Prepositional Phrase on the deskto the doorover the wallin
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AdvP Adverb Phrase very slowlyslowly
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Phrasal Phrasal UnitsUnits
-Head
-Specifier
-Complement
-Modifier
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HeadHead
the most important word
the picture in the book (NP)
write a letter hastily (VP)
over the fence (PP)
very urgent (AP)
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the phrase is built around the head
NP head: a noun
VP head: a verb
AP head: an adjective
PP head: a preposition
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The head:
1. is a single word
2. is compulsory
(the only one: single word phrases)
Men (NP)
rude (AP)
3. There is only one head in a phrase.
4. A given word can be the head of one
phrase only .25
She is certain.
certain
A
AP
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He went in.
in
P
PP
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SpecifiersSpecifiers
(Det, Deg, Qual)
Semantically, specifiers help to make more precise the meaning of the head.
the books (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
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Specifier categoriesSpecifier 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)
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NDet
NP
booksthe
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VQual
VP
eatnever
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ADeg
AP
certainquite
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PDeg
PP
inalmost
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Typical specifier functions of syntactic categoriesTypical 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
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ComplemeComplementsnts
Complements :1.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
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4. Strong syntactic framesput something somewherefond of….a story about…..
5. Omission of complements results in ungrammaticality.*put*put on the table*put the book
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hamburger a eat
never
Qual V Det N
NNPP
VP
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the about books
the
Det N P Det
PPPP
NP
war
N
NP
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house the in almost
Deg P Det N
NPNP
PP
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about certain
quite
Deg A P
PPPP
AP
Mary
N
NP
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Complement OptionsComplement Options
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1. (zero complement) (intransitive) The child vanished__
2. NP (transitive) The professor proved [NP the
theorem].
3. AP The man became [AP very angry].
4. PP The dog dashed [PP to the door].
VerbsVerbs
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5. NP NP (ditransitive)
We handed [NP the man] [NP a map].
6. NP PP She gave [NP a certificate] [PP to the
student].
7. PP PP I talked [PP to a doctor] [PP about Sue].
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NounsNouns
1. (zero complement) the car__
2. PP the memory [PP of a friend]
3. PP PP the presentation [PP of a medal] [PP to the winner]
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AdjectivesAdjectives
1. (zero complement) very tall__
2. PP curious [PP about China]
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PrepositionPrepositionss
1. (zero complement) He got down__
2. NP in [NP the house]
3. PP down [PP into the cellar]
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ModifierModifierss
Modifiers :1.are themselves phrases / multiple modifiers
[a very difficult question] NP
[sitting quietly for an hour] VP
(only APs, PPs, AdvPs can be modifiers.)
2. Modifiers can precede or follow the head in English.
before the head: pre-modifierafter the head: post-modifier
AP
AdvP PP
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3. They encode optionally expressible properties of heads / extra information / not implied by the head
sit does not imply manner (quietly) / duration (for an
hour)
4. Omission of modifiers does not result in ungrammaticality.sitsit quietlysit for an hour
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[A very tall man] walked into the room.
She made [exceptional progress].
Noun Modifiers Noun Modifiers (APs)(APs)
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Verb ModifiersVerb 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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Modifier Position in EnglishModifier Position in English
AP precedes the head
PP follows the head
AdvP precedes oror follows the head
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crisis international
an
Det A N
NP
AP
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cautiously proceed
always
Qual V Adv
VP
AdvP
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Thank You!
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