Transcript Phrasal Units - WordPress.com

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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Syntax
the component of the grammar [which investigates]
the system of rules and categories that underlies
sentence formation in human language
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The version of syntactic analysis in this course
Transformational Syntax
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Nature of Sentences
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Infiniteness
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Infiniteness in number
(unlimited number of sentences)
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Infiniteness in length
(indefinitely long sentences)
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Do you know I guessed whathappened next
at the match?
No place like home
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Hierarchical Structure
(increasingly larger units / several levels)
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The duck bit the burglar
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Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
The duck bit the burglar
The duck
bit the burglar
bit
the burglar
The duck
The duck
bit
the burglar
1 constituent
2 constituents
3 constituents
5 constituents
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Types of Constituents
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Word-level Constituents
single words
(the, duck, bit, the, burglar)
the: determiner
duck, burglar: noun
bit: verb
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Phrase Level Constituents
larger units with an internal structure
the duck (NP)
the burglar (NP)
bit the burglar (VP)
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Phrase Types
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VP Verb Phrase
eat an apple
eat well
eat
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NP Noun Phrase
books
the books
many books
the books on the table
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AP Adjective Phrase
nice
very nice
very nice of you
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PP Prepositional Phrase
on the desk
to the door
over the wall
in
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AdvP Adverb Phrase
very slowly
slowly
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Phrasal Units
-Head
-Specifier
-Complement
-Modifier
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Head
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 .
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She is certain.
AP
A
certain
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He went in.
PP
P
in
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Specifiers
(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 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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NP
Det
N
the
books
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VP
Qual
V
never
eat
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AP
Deg
A
quite
certain
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PP
Deg
P
almost
in
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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
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Complements
Complements :
1. are themselves phrases / multiple complements
[put the book on the table] VP
NP
PP
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)
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4. Strong syntactic frames
put something somewhere
fond of….
a story about…..
5. Omission of complements results in ungrammaticality.
*put
*put on the table
*put the book
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VP
NP
Qual
V
Det
N
never
eat
a
hamburger
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NP
PP
NP
Det
N
P
Det
N
the
books
about
the
war
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PP
NP
Deg
P
Det
N
almost
in
the
house
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AP
PP
NP
Deg
A
P
N
quite
certain
about
Mary
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Complement Options
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Verbs
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].
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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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Nouns
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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Adjectives
1.  (zero complement)
very tall__
2. PP
curious [PP about China]
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Prepositions
1.  (zero complement)
He got down__
2. NP
in [NP the house]
3. PP
down [PP into the cellar]
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Modifiers
Modifiers :
1. are themselves phrases / multiple modifiers
[a very difficult question] NP
AP
[sitting quietly for an hour] VP
AdvP
PP
(only APs, PPs, AdvPs can be modifiers.)
2. Modifiers can precede or follow the head in English.
before the head: pre-modifier
after the head: post-modifier
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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.
sit
sit quietly
sit for an hour
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Noun Modifiers (APs)
[A very tall man] walked into the room.
She made [exceptional progress].
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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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Modifier Position in English
AP
precedes the head
PP
follows the head
AdvP
precedes or follows the head
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NP
AP
Det
A
N
an
international
crisis
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VP
AdvP
Qual
V
always
proceed
Adv
cautiously
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Thank You!
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