2. Phrase Structure
N V A P word level
NP
VP
AP
PP
phrase level
NP Noun Phrase --Defined as a category that can bear some grammatical function in a sentence, e.g. as subject or direct object.
Recapture
• IC Analysis • Lexical Categorization Criteria
Lexical categories 词汇范畴 Syntactic categories 句法范畴
The name is given to formal objects that are allowed to appear as a node in a tree (phrases are described as trees).
(胡壮麟，P128)
Exercise
Work in pairs to answer the question:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of IC analysis?
Basic components of a sentence
Sentence Subject a referring expression Predicate comprises a finite verb or a verb phrase and says something about the subject
Common monadic categories are: 1. S Sentence -The largest category capable of syntactic categorization --I saw the big aeroplane. --How large is the plane? --Rob was flown by the aeroplane which Jane saw.
句法学简介
In generative linguistics, syntax, phonology and semantics are the major constituents of grammar. Syntax consists of various generative syntactical rules: s-rule，phrase rule and transformational rule. Syntactical construction is composed of syntactic classes and syntactic categories. Syntactical analysis is based on lexical items and syntactic relationships.
Lexical categories 词汇范畴
The name given to classes into which lexical items are grouped. --There are traditionally 8 classes: Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective…. --Modern linguistic theories have more, ranging from 12-140+! -- They are also known as parts of speech and word classes
Classification of Lexical Items
• How are words classified into classes? --Phonological criteria “To inCREASE the number of students, we need an Increase in funding.”
--Semantic criteria, structural ambiguity “Flying planes can be dangerous” · you live under the flight path. if · if you haven’t got a pilot’s license.
constituent immediate constituents poor John, ran away ultimate constituents poor, John, ran, away
Advantages of IC analysis 1. It helps to account for the ambiguity of certain constructions. e.g. The son of Pharaoh’s daughter is the daughter of Pharaoh’s son. 2. It clearly demonstrates that sentences are not mere left-to-right linear sequences of elements. Instead, elements come into relationships of great complexity and varying kinds. (胡壮麟，P125-126)
--Morphological criteria Some words have a similar pattern of inflection as others: word words computer computers people peoples Words that have a similar morphological behavior are grouped. There will be exceptions, but this does not invalidate the general method.
Types of NP NP N NP Pron. NP Det N NP Det Adj N
--Notional criteria Class Denotation Noun entity (car, house, Mr. Bean) Verb action (eat, push, sleep) Adjective state (green, happy, sleepy) Adverb manner in which the action is done (smoothly, quickly) Preposition denotation of position (from the back) Determiner a word which specifies (this lecture)
The son of Pharaoh’s daughter is the daughter of Pharaoh’s son
=（1）The daughter of Pharaoh’s son 法老儿子的女儿 =（2）The daughter of Pharaoh’s son 法老女儿的儿子
Disadvantages of IC Analysis 1. It results in technical problems due to discontinuous constituents. E.g. Leave + the book+ on the shelf. 2. It results in ambiguity problems. E.g. the love of God, the shooting of the hunters
Introduction
Lexical item 语项 --labels attached to “words”. “Lexical item” is a term associated with dictionaries or lexicons. It takes an abstract view of words. --a word has more or less consistent meaning, but can differ because of grammatical function. e.g. do/did/done/doing/does are particular forms of the lexical item do.
The definition of syntax
A subfield of linguistics that studies the sentence structure of language. Specifically, it studies the combination
of words to form sentences and the rules that govern the formation of sentences.
--Distributive criteria Evidence is found by examining the position in which words can occur in a sentence: known as the distribution of words. All words of a similar class should seem naturally intuitive and words that don’t fit can be used to construct other classes. So, Everyone likes bear. Everyone likes cars. Everyone likes Harry Potter. *Everyo
Oop
s!
Colourless green ideas sleep curiously.