g r a m m a r 1 [ 3-simple syntax ]
Post on 11-Apr-2016
226 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
UG PRINCIPLES
R E C U R S I O N : the property of allowing a given structure
to contain more than one instance of a given category.The term ‘recursion’ has been used in generative grammar to describe two separate but related phenomena, one concerning the internal structure of linguistic expressions and the other, the computational mechanisms that generate those structures. From an internalist perspective, the latter is primary, while the former is apparently of secondary importance. This becomes clear when we consider the rationale behind the reduction of “transformational grammar” to the single operation Merge, i.e. the sole structure-building operation in a grammar. The recursive structure-building character of Merge accounts for the unbounded character of human language, involving a DISCRETE INFINITY of interpretable expressions. Given that the former determines the properties of the latter, we also need to consider the role of the lexicon in this discussion of recursion.
In the classical theory of gravity, [which is based on real space-time], the universe can either have existed for an infinite time or else it had a beginning as a singularity at some finite time in the past, [the latter possibility of which, in fact, the singularity theorems indicate], although the quantum theory of gravity, on the other hand, suggests a third possibility [in which it is possible for space-time to be finite in extent and yet to have no singularities [that formed a boundary or edge because one is using Euclidean space-times, {in which the time direction is on the same footing as directions in space}].
BINARITY principle:Every phonological, morphological and
syntactic structure is inherentlybinary branching.
BINARY BRANCHING IN PHONOLOGY:A syllable like “bat” has a binary structure consisting of:the onset /b/ and the rhyme /at/The rhyme at the same time, has a binary structure, consisting of:the nucleus /a/ and the coda /t/
BINARY BRANCHING IN MORPHOLOGYMorphological structures are also binary:
indecypherability1. prefix ‘de’ + N ‘cypher’ = V
‘decypher’2. derivational suffix ‘able’ + V ‘decypher’
= A ‘decypherable’ 3. prefix ‘in’ + A ‘decypherable’
= A ‘indecypherable’ 4. derivational suffix ‘ity’ + A
‘indecypherable’= N ‘indecypherability’
BINARY BRANCHING IN SYNTAXSyntactic units or phrases are also binary:clauses & sentences are particular kinds of phrases
Phrases are derived by means of successive BINARY merger operations, which can be
analysed in a bottom-up fashion:to form the following maximal TP projection:
they are trying to help you• the maximal VP projection ‘trying to help you’
merges (as COMPLEMENT)with the minimal projection (i.e. HEAD) T ‘are’
• the resulting intermediate projection T-barmerges with the SPECIFIER maximal projection
DP ‘they’ to form the maximal TP projection
ENDOCENTRICITY (HEADNESS principle):Every syntactic structure is a projection of a head.CONSTITUENT TESTS(testing structure through standard heuristics)coordination:(a) what does he do to keep fit?(b) run up the hill and up the mountain.(a) What did he do about his bills?(b) *ring up the phone company and up the electricity company substitution:“He” is substituted for “the chairman”:The chairman has resigned from the board, and he is now living in utopia.“So” is substituted for “resigned from the board”:The press say that the chairman has resigned from the board and so he has.
• Constituent structures are organised in an endocentric and hierarchical configuration
• Endocentricity is a UG-admitted mode of organising categorial structures
• X-bar Theory embodies the principles of endocentricity an X-bar-theory tree diagram provides a graphic representation of the principles
of hierarchy and endocentricity
• A language of the endocentric type generally has a rigid word order
Determiner Phrase Prepositional Phrase DP PP
D N Adv P’that idea right
P DP between
the eyes
Verb Phrase Tense PhraseVP TP
D V’ D T’ we we
V DP T VP support should
that idea complain
She talked to her with sympathy.
Dshe
V’
Vtalked
VP
VPPto
VP
PPP
withDøD
her
DP
T'
TP
CP
Cø
[dec]
PP
Nsympathy
Dshe
Tpastperf3S
She talked to her with sympathy.
Dshe
V’
Vtalk
VP
VPPto
VP
PPP
withDøD
her
DP
T’
TP
CP
Cø
[dec]
PP
Nsympathy
ed
Dshe
Tpastperf3S
She often visits Mary at her house.
Dshe
V’
V
VP
VP
VP
Advoften
Pat
Dher
DP
T’
TP
CP
Cø
[dec]
PP
Dshe
Tpresimp3S
Dø
DP
NMary
V°visits
D[gen]
D’
Nhouse
Advoften
Advoften
Dshe
She often visits Mary at her house.
Dshe
V’
V
VP
VP
VP
Advoften
Pat
Dher
DP
T’
TP
CP
Cø
[dec]
PP
s
Dshe
Tpresimp3S
Dø
DP
NMary
V°visit
D[gen]
D’
Nhouse
Advoften
PASSIVISATIONOBJECTIVE CASE:DIRECT OBJECTINDIRECT OBJECTOBLIQUE OBJECT
1. DIRECT OBJECTPeter sent the material to us. → Peter sent it to us.It/the material was sent to us [by Peter]
2. INDIRECT OBJECTPeter sent us the material. → ?Peter sent us it.We were sent the material [by Peter]
3. OBLIQUE OBJECTThe gorilla has sat on the night-table.The night-table has been sat on [by the gorilla].
4. OBLIQUE OBJECTPeter looked at the guests.The guests were looked at [by Peter].
1. Someone may have seen all of those teachers at the party.
2. All of those teachers may have been seen at the party.
3. Those teachers may have been seen all at the party.
4. Those teachers may have been all seen at the party.
5. Those teachers may have all been seen at the party.
6. Those teachers may all have been seen at the party.
the P A R T I T I V E
phrase
1. all [individuals/members]
( of )2. those teachers
1. PART2. WHOLE
These works of graffiti, painted alongside Regent’s Canal, were each done by two separate artists, Mighty Monkey and Sweet Toof.
They were each taken in for questioning by the police as suspects in a monetary theft.
Six different test spiders were each given a different drug and were observed spinning webs.
The dream sequences and flashbacks were each done in different creative styles that I enjoyed.
Boston and New York papers each published their own transcripts which were snapped up hot off the press.
CONTROL and ECM constructions
ECM = exceptional case marking
They both expected to attend the meetingwith some degree of
excitement.
TP
T’
CP
C
ø[decl]
Dthey
TP
T’
TPastImperf3P
QP
Qboth
NP
Nø
PP
Pø
VP
V’
Vexpected
VP
DPRO
Tto
VP
V’
Vattend
DP
Dthe
Nmeeting
PP
with some degree of excitement
PP
DP
They both expected to attend the meeting
with some degree of excitement.CP
C
ø[decl] D
they
TP
T’
TImpPast3P
QP
Qboth
NP
Nø
Pø
VP
V’
Vexpected
VP
DPRO
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vattend
DP
Dthe
Nmeeting
Pwith
PP
Dsome
NP
PP
Pof
Ndegree
DP
Dø
Nexcitement
On Friday, I watched them go up the stairs.
On Friday, I watched [them go up the stairs].
On Friday, I watched [the football match].
ECM constructions:Can anyone advise me on how to deal with my boyfriend?I find him quite mean and money driven.I’ve been with my boyfriend since I was 19. I find him quite boring.Some people find him difficult, but I find him quite easy to wear.You may find him/her/it/us/them inspiring/attractive/annoying...I consider/judge/believe / I judge him a fool / I judged it (to be) right I want it very cold. / I want that (to be) played at my own funeral.“I'll go ahead and assign Jason to this task. I want him (to be) working on this for about two hours each day for the next five days.”“I can't tell you how good this guy is when it comes to working on your scooter because I have left him five messages over the course of a month and he has never called. I figure if he can't work a phone, do I want him working on a vehicle?I prefer it more subtle/simple. I prefer him tall and lanky. I have to admit that I prefer him tall, dark and handsome, but this too will pass.
Who does he expect to call?
Who does he expect you to call?
Who does he expect to call you?
CONTROL:Who does hei expect PROi to call WHOWHO?
ECM:Who does hei expect youh to call WHOWHO?
ECM:Who does hei expect WHOWHOh to call you?
Who does he expect to call?
CP
C'
C
TP
T'
Tdoes
VP
Dhe
V'
Vexpect
TP
T'
Tto
VP
V’
Vcall
Dhe
Tdoes
DPROD
PROD
whoD
who
Tdoes
Dhe
DPRO
Dwho
Who does he expect to call?CP
C’
C
QQTP
T’
Tdoes
VP
Dhe
V’
Vexpect
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vcall
Dhe
Tdoes
DPROD
PROD
whoD
who
Who does he expect you to call?
CP
C’
C
TP
T’
Tdoes
VP
Dhe
V’
Vexpect
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vcall
Dhe
Tdoes
DyouD
youD
whoD
who
Tdoes
Dhe
Dyou
Dwho
Who does he expect you to call?CP
C’
C
QQTP
T’
Tdoes
VP
Dhe
V’
Vexpect
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vcall
Dhe
Tdoes
DyouD
youD
whoD
who
Who does he expect to call you?
CP
C’
C
TP
T’
Tdoes
VP
Dhe
V’
Vexpect
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Dyou
Dwho
Dhe
Tdoes
DwhoD
who
Dwho
Tdoes
Dhe
Vcall
Who does he expect to call you?CP
C’
C
QQTP
T’
Tdoes
VP
Dhe
V’
Vexpect
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vcall
Dyou
Dwho
Dhe
Tdoes
DwhoD
who
OBJECT-CONTROL
The unambitious caretaker must have tried to tell his daughter to expect us to
do them a favour.
CP
Cø
[dec]
TP
T’
Tmust
PerfP’
Perf’
Perfhave
VP
V’
Vtried
DP
Dthe
FP
Aunambitious
F’
F[agr]
Ncaretaker
Control predicateTP
to tell his daughter to expect us to do them a favour
V’
Vtried
TP
DPRO
T’
Tto
VP
V’
V’
Vtell
DP
Dhis
D’
D[gen]
Ndaughter
TP
to expect us to do them a favour
Control predicate
Object control predicate
TP
DPRO
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vexpect
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vdo
Dthem
Dus
V’
DP
Da
NfavourECM predicate
Double object predicate
V’
V’
Vtell
DP
his daughter
The unambitious caretaker must have
CP
Cø
[dec]
TP
T’
Tmust
PerfP’
Perf’
Perfhave
VP
V’
Vtried
TP
DPRO
T’
Tto
VP
V’
V’
DP
Dthe
FP
Aunambitio
us
F’
F[agr]
Ncaretake
r
Vtell
DP
Dhis
D’
D[gen]
Ndaughter
TP
to expect us…
TP
DPRO
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vexpec
t
TP
T’
Tto
VP
V’
Vdo
Dthem
Dus
V’
DP
Da
Nfavour
tried
totell
his daughter to
expect
us to do
them a favour.
Control predicateObject control
predicateECM predicateDouble object
predicate
Our master would allow us all to lie in the sun.Analysed as an ECM structure DISCARDED
c-command
1. polarity expressions + affective
constituents
2. anaphoric pronouns
(i.e. reflexive/reciprocals)
+ their (suitable) antecedent
top related