Syntax

Syntax n The natural internal “grammar” of a language.

Syntax n Varies greatly from language to language

Syntax n The natural internal “grammar” of a language. n Varies greatly from language to language n However some aspects of of syntax exist all languages, as far as anyone knows, e.g. nouns and verbs.

Syntax n What is the normal word order of an English sentence?

Syntax n S-V-O: The dog bit the child.

Syntax n What is the normal word order of an English sentence? n What about: The child bit the dog?

Syntax n What is the normal word order of an English sentence? n What about: The child bit the dog? n Or: The bit the child dog

Syntax n What is the normal word order of an English sentence? n What about: The child bit the dog? n Or: The bit the child dog n Or: Bit the child the dog

Syntax n What is the normal word order of an English sentence? n English is not a highly inflected language, so the word order is very important.

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Poeta puellae magnas rosas dat

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Poeta puellae magnas rosas dat n A poet to a girl large roses gives

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Poeta puellae magnas rosas dat n A poet to a girl large roses give n Could also be: –Puellae magnas rosas dat poeta –Dat poeta puellae rosas magnas, etc.

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Why is this possible?

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Why is this possible? n Inflectional morphemes!!

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Why is this possible? n Inflectional morphemes!! n Puella (nom. The girl) n Puellae (dat. To the girl)

Syntax n Latin word order (a highly inflected language) n Why is this possible? n Inflectional morphemes!! n Rosa (nom. The rose) n Rosas (pl. acc. direct object - the roses)

Syntax n Spanish word order is highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected.

Syntax n The poet gives the girl large roses.

Syntax n Spanish word order is highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected. n The poet gives the girl large roses. n El poeta le da a la chica las rosas grandes

Syntax n Spanish word order is highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected. n The poet gives the girl large roses. n El poeta le da a la chica las rosas grandes n Le da a la chica las rosas grandes el poeta

Syntax n Spanish word order is highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected. n The poet gives the girl large roses. n El poeta le da a la chica las rosas grandes n Le da a la chica las rosas grandes el poeta n A la chica le da las rosas grandes el poeta

Syntax n French, in the same family as Spanish, does not have flexible word order

Syntax n Le poète donne les grandes fleurs à la fille.

Syntax n Other languages have limited flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English.

Syntax n Manx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thie

Syntax n Other languages have limited flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English. n Manx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thie n Is the man going to the house - VSO

Syntax n Other languages have limited flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English. n Manx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thie n Is the man going to the house - VSO Welsh: Mae’r dyn yn mynd i’r t í Welsh: Mae’r dyn yn mynd i’r t í

Syntax n Whatever the syntax of a language, it’s speakers automatically know whether or not what they hear or say is acceptable (in the sense of getting their point across)