1 Chapter 4 Syntax Part III

2 The infinity of language pp The number of sentences in a language is infinite. 2. The length of sentences is infinite because language has various means of creating longer and longer sentences, such as adding an adjective or a prepositional phrase, or including sentences within sentences. (subordination 從屬 and coordination 對等 ). 3. Recursive rules ( 循環律 ) allows the grammar to generate an infinite set of sentences.

3 p Our brain capacity is finite, able to store only a finite number of categories and rules for their combination. Yet, these finite means place an infinite set of sentences at our disposal. This property illustrates the difference between competence and performance. ** p. 558 Recursive rule: a phrase structure rule that repeats its own category on its right side, e.g. VP → VP PP

4 Example: p. 134 Syntax permits structures with multiple pps: “ The girl walked down the street with a gun toward the bank. ” S NP VP Det N VP PP The girl VP PP P NP VP PP P NP toward Det N V P NP with Det N the bank walked down Det N a gun the street

5 p. 135: NPs can contain PPs recursively. “ the man with the telescope in a box ” NP NP PP Det N P NP The man with NP PP Det N P NP the telescope in Det N a box

p. 135 Rule 7 (VP → V CP), Rule 8 (CP → C S) and Rule 1 (S → NP VP) form a recursive set because S and NP occur on both the left and right side of the rules. See the tree on p

7 p. 137 Determiners and adjectives in NPs Similarity: Both are modifiers of NPs. Differences: 1.An NP never has more than one determiner in it, while it may contain many adjectives. 2.An adjective directly modifies the noun (sister to the noun), while a determiner modifies the whole adjective(s)+noun complex (sister to the complex).

Multiple adjectives: Reated application of NP → Adj NP NP Adj NP 8

9 A problem “ the handsome boy ” *NP Adj NP handsome Det N the boy

10 Solution: A new level between NP and N [N-bar (N ’ )] “ the handsome boy ” NP Det N ’ the Adj N ’ handsome N boy

11 A revised rule and two new rules p NP → Det N’ (revised version from NP → Det N) 2.N’ → Adj N’ 3.N’ → N

12 p. 138 NPs with multiple adjectives NP Det N ’ the Adj N ’ kind Adj N ’ handsome Adj N ’ intelligent Adj N ’ athletic N boy

13 p. 138 Determiner-less NP structures NP → N’ pronouns, proper nouns, abstract nouns, plural nouns NP N ’ N he Robert love students

14 p. 138 possessive NPs “ Melissa ’ s garden ” NP NP ’ s N ’ Melissa N garden

15 “ the girl ’ s shoes ” NP NP ’ s N ’ Det N ’ N the N shoes girl

16 p. 139 “ the man with the telescope ’ s hat ” NP NP ’ s N ’ NP PP N Det N ’ P NP hat the N with Det N ’ man the N telescope

17 Subject and direct object structurally defined p subject: the NP that is immediately dominated by the root subject 2. direct object: the NP that is immediately dominated by VP