Download - Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity
Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity
Gareth Price – Duke University
Rules for Lectures in Syntax
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Why analyse Syntax?• It tells us the structure of sentences• It satisfies a curiosity about language in the
same as e.g. Crosswords and, for numbers, Sudoku
• Drawing trees is a great party trick• ... and kills a few hours on the bus.
What does it tell us about the structure of sentences?
Recall:XP = {spec} + X’thenX’ = X + YP / YP + X
(complement = necessary to the operation of the sentence)
or X’ = YP + X’ / X’ + YP
(adjunct = incidental to the operation of the sentence)
New housing project for elderly not yet dead
New housing project for elderly not yet dead
Two meanings:(a) new housing project for (the) elderly (is) not
yet dead (in e.g. the House)(a) new housing project (is) for (the) elderly
(who are) not yet dead
Two meanings:{literal}
Surface structure / Phonetic Form [PF]There is a housing project for the elderly (who are not
yet dead) {contextual}
Deep structure / Logical form [LF]A housing project for the elderly is still viable / being
discussed
• PF• Did you hear that whale?• LF• Did you hear that wail?
• = no such thing as context-free language
NP VP V’ PP N’ P’ AP A’
NP NP N’
N’ Adv.P Adv.’ AP A’ A N N V P N Neg Adv A New housing project is for elderly not yet dead
NP VP V’ PP N’ P’ AP A’
NP NP N’
N’ Adv.P Adv.’ AP A’ A N N P N V Neg Adv A New housing project for elderly is not yet dead
Complaints Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly
Complaints Against ACC Referees [are] Growing Ugly
Complaints [are] Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly
[There are] Complaints Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly
Recall: Case marking
Canis hominem mordet Canem hominis mordet
EMT Team Help Dog Bite Man
I shot the Sheriff with a badge
I shot the Sheriff with a gun
I shot the Sheriff with my boots on
Flowers ate the desks with my boots
Colourless green bottles sleep furiously
Det. Adj. N V Adv. PP Det. N
Det. Adj. N V Adv. P Det. NThe acturous parples thrustle grimulously in the glosselthrop
What does syntax learn us?