Sentence structure notes
Concept structure - fundamental to study of syntax.
When something is complex, we mean:
Hierarchical relation
(a) divisible into parts (constituents.)
(b) there are diff kinds of parts (diff categories of constituents.)
(c) constituents arranged in a specifiable way.
(d) Each constituent certain specifiable function in the structure of the thing as a whole.
Concept of structure essential in distinguishing b/w strings of words which are well formed
expressions and those which are not.
Book concerned w syntactic structure.
1. Analysing linguistic expressions into their constituents (parts)
2. Identifying the categories of those constituents.
3. Determining their functions.
Discussion of hierarchical structure and importance of recognising that sentences have
structure forces us to abandon the idea that sentences consist in any simple way, of
words.
Can be shown by asking if relationship b/w a sentence and its words is direct or indirect
(mediated by parts of intermediate complexity)
Only if the words contained in a sentence are immediate constituents that we can allow
that sentences consist of words.
While sentences certainly contain words, they don’t consist of words. They consist of
phrases. Words belong with other words to form groups (phrases)
Which have own position in the sentence structure.
These phrases function as immediate constituents of the sentence.
Need to acknowledge sentences have hierarchical structure, (also need to include info
about grammatical categories in our diagrams., e.g., can’t replace noun with adverb etc)
Not all parts of a sentence are necessary for that sentence to be complete and well
formed.
Sequences of words that can function as constituents in the structure of sentences are
called phrases.
Elements of structure intermediate between sentence and word
Any point in a phrase marker that could branch and bear a label is called a node.
Node said to dominate everything that appears below it and joined to it by a line.
If u have a path single node, then those elements are represented as a constituent ( a
phrase)
2.
3. In the window, (trying the dress on, whilst in the window) in my pyjamas. (Either the person
or the elephant is wearing them) In his underwear. (did he extinguish the fire while wearing
his underwear or was that where it was?