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Definitions For Syntax

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6 views3 pages

Definitions For Syntax

Uploaded by

aomniakiwan4
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES

S→ NP VP
1- The cat sleeps
2- The sun sets
3- The boy slept

NP→ (Det) (Adj) N (PP)


1- The small cat on the couch
2- The fast car on the road
3- A pretty lady in the car

VP→ V(NP)(PP) [Adv]


1- Draws a picture on the paper carefully
2- Eats a pizza with corn happily
3- Climbs the mountain with a backpack

PP→ P NP
1- Under the table
2- On the street
3- Down the road

NP→ (Det) (Adj) N


1- The pretty girl
2- An amazing lecturer
3- A cute cat

VP→V (PP)
1- Swims in the ocean
2- Plays with the sand
3- Danced under the stars
What is syntax?
It’s the study of how sentences and phrases are constructed.

What is language? Why do we need it?


Language is what’s spoken not what’s written, it’s a system that allows people to
communicate with one another.

What is linguistics?
It’s the study of language, how it works, its structure and how people use it to
communicate.

What do you know when you know a language?


You have a set of buildings blocks and rule and you know how to use them.

What is the relationship between semantics and syntax?


The relationship is independent, they are not related to one another. You can have
weird meanings but good syntax.

What are arguments?


an expression whose occurrence is necessitated by the occurrence of some other
expression.

What are adjuncts?


an expression whose occurrence with another expression is entirely optional.

What is agreement?
when distinct expressions are required to have the same value for a grammatical
feature.

What are complements?


They are non subject arguments

What are modifiers?


Adjuncts that give additional meaning to the noun adjectives she likes small (mod)
dogs.

What is descriptive grammar?


It describes the rules that a speaker actually uses.
Descriptive rules:
1- Unconscious
2- Used effortlessly
3- Not linked with authority or social prestige
4- Focused on by linguists
What is prescriptive grammar?
It describes the rules that a speaker must follow
prescriptive rules:
1- conscious
2- Difficult and effortless to use
3- Typically linked with authority or social prestige

What is a linguistic expression?


As piece of a language that has certain form meaning and syntactic properties.

What does it mean “linguistic forms can be ambiguous”?


They can correspond to more than one distinct expression

What are the two types of ambiguity?


Lexical and structural ambiguity

What is lexical ambiguity? Give an example.


When a form has a different meaning like mole/bat

What is structural ambiguity? Explain and give an example.


when a sentence can be understood in more than one way, such as “I saw the man
with the binoculars.”

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