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The Nature of Language Structures

The document discusses the nature of language, focusing on sentence structures and their components, including verbs and nouns. It highlights the binary features of sentences that allow for various transformations and the relationship between semantic and syntactic structures. Ultimately, it concludes that while language connects human experience to sound, its complexity remains a challenge to fully understand.

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Michaels Cultura
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14 views8 pages

The Nature of Language Structures

The document discusses the nature of language, focusing on sentence structures and their components, including verbs and nouns. It highlights the binary features of sentences that allow for various transformations and the relationship between semantic and syntactic structures. Ultimately, it concludes that while language connects human experience to sound, its complexity remains a challenge to fully understand.

Uploaded by

Michaels Cultura
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Nature of Language:

Structures
Based on William G. Moulton's
Analysis
Introduction
• A sentence consists of meaningful elements
arranged in a meaningful structure.
• Language grants freedom in some choices
while enforcing strict rules in others.
• We explore the structures that form language.
Sentence Structures
• Simple sentences:
• - 'The dog bites the man.'
• - 'The dogs were biting the man.'
• - 'The men had been bitten by the dogs.'
• These sentences involve meaningful elements:
verbs, nouns, and structural rules.
Components of Sentence Structure
• Key elements:
• - Verb: 'bite'
• - Noun1 (Agent): 'dog'
• - Noun2 (Patient): 'man'
• English requires pluralization and definiteness
distinctions.
Features of Sentence Structure
• Sentence features (binary choices):
• - Interrogative (+/-)
• - Question (+/-)
• - Past (+/-)
• - Perfect (+/-)
• - Progressive (+/-)
• - Passive (+/-)
• - Negative (+/-)
• This structure allows for 128 variations of a
Semantic & Syntactic Structures
• - Sememes (meaningful elements) are
structured relationally.
• - Phonemes (sounds) are structured linearly.
• - Syntax organizes elements in tree structures
(subject-predicate, noun phrases, verb
phrases).
Transformational Rules
• Transformations convert deep structure into
surface structure:
• - Example: 'The dog bit the man' -> '# the dog
# bit # the man #'
• - Phonological rules then convert morphemes
into phonemes for speech.
Conclusion
• - Language connects human experience with
sound.
• - Structure governs how elements are
arranged.
• - Despite our understanding, language
remains complex and enigmatic.

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