Syntax: The analysis of sentence structure. Definition of Syntax. Syntax. Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 1. Chapter 9

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1 Syntax: The analysis of sentence structure Chapter 9 1 Definition of Syntax The study of rules governing way words are combined to form sentences in a language. *garden *Children are *Work in This class: what syntactic structure is and what rules that determine syntactic structure are like. 2 Syntax Properties of syntactic knowledge: Understand & produce an infinite number of sentences never heard before Some purple gnats are starting to tango on microwave Understand and produce long sentences Bill said that he thought that esteemed leader of house had it in mind to tell unfortunate vice president that calls that he made from office in White House that he thought was private.. ermine grammatical relations in a sentence Mary hired Bill. Vs. Bill hired Mary 3 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 1

2 Syntax & meaning on-sense sentences with clear syntax Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. A verb crumpled milk. I gave question a scuba-diving egg. *Furiously sleep ideas green colorless. *Milk crumpled * question I an egg scuba-diving gave. Sentences are composed of discrete units that are combined by rules. These rules explain how speakers can store infinite knowledge in a finite space- brain. 4 Generative Grammar oam Chomsky 1950s Generative = a very explicit system of rules specifying what combinations of basic elements result in well-formed sentences. Defines syntactic structure of a language. 5 Generative Grammar all and only = all grammatical sentences and only grammatical sentences Finite rules infinite number of wellformed sentences Productivity of language Phrase structure rules Transformational rules 6 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 2

3 Phrase structure rules Some words seem to belong toger: {The crazy man} {is jumping off bridge} Groups of words that belong toger are called constituents The component that determines properties of constituent is head, and constituent can be referred to as a phrase: e.g. noun phrase 7 Phrase Structure Rules PSRs= State structure of a phrase If we look at phrases, some patterns emerge: instructor = P a friend = P some homework = P 8 Phrase Structure Rules (PSR) some more patterns: V call instructor= VP V meet a friend = VP V do some homework = VP V skip two classes = VP 9 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 3

4 PSR and yet more patterns: Prep with instructor= PP Prep from a friend = PP Prep with some homework = PP Prep after two classes = PP 10 PSR Rules for determining structure of phrases Generate a lot of sentences from a small number of rules. The structure of a phrase will consist of one or more constituents in a certain order. What does a P consist of? noun phrases have a and a P 11 Lexical Rules We need lexical rules to specify which words can be used when we rewrite constituents such as. P {Mary, George} Art Pro {girl, boy, dog} 12 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 4

5 PSR V V V run a marathon eat food read book V Prep V Prep go to store talk with a teacher V Prep take your sister to library Verb phrases have a V, (sometimes) an P, and (sometimes) a PP VP -> V (P) (PP) 13 The main phrase structure rules 1. S P VP 2. P {, Pro, P} 3. VP V (P) (PP) (Adv) 4. PP P P 5. AP A (PP) 14 Phrase Structure Rules & tree diagrams P () PP P P The boy (P) boy in yard P PP The boy P P The boy in yard 15 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 5

6 Phrase Structure Rules VP V (P) (PP) S P VP took money (VP) V took P money took money from bank VP V P P PP P took money from bank 16 Example (1) The old tree swayed in wind S P VP Adj V PP P P The old tree swayed in wind 17 Example (2) The children put toy in box S P VP V P PP P P The children put toy in box 18 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 6

7 Example 3 19 Back to Generative Grammar How superficially different sentences are closely related? How superficially similar sentences are different? 20 Deep and surface structure The deep structure is an abstract level of structural organization in which all elements determining structural interpretation are represented. Sentences that have alternative interpretations Sentences that have different surface forms but have same underlying meaning. Surface structure= how sentence is actually represented 21 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 7

8 Deep and surface structure How superficially different sentences are closely related? Charlie broke window. The window was broken by Charlie Charlie who broke window. Was window broken by Charlie? Difference in ir surface structure = difference in syntactic forms BUT y have same deep or underlying structure 22 Structural ambiguity How superficially similar sentences are different? (multiple meanings) E.g. Annie whacked man with an umbrella Same surface structure but different deep structure The boy saw man with a telescope The question is: What is scope of "with telescope"? Does it modify only " man" or does it modify "saw man"? 23 Structural Ambiguity (1) The boy saw man with telescope S P VP V P PP P P The boy saw man with telescope Meaning: Using telescope, boy saw man 24 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 8

9 Structural Ambiguity (2) The boy saw man with telescope S P VP V P PP P P The boy saw man with telescope Meaning: The boy saw man. The man had a telescope. 25 Recursion Rules can be applied more than once in generating sentences E.g. repeat prepositional phrases more than once The gun was on table near window in bedroom in pink house Put sentences inside sentences This is cat that ate rat that ate cheese that was sold by man that lived in city that was on river o end to recursion- produce longer complex sentences 26 Back to recursion [Mary helped George]. (A sentence) [Cathy knew] that [Mary helped George]. (a sentence within a sentence) [John believed] that [Cathy knew] that [Mary helped George]. The word that introduces complement phrase 27 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 9

10 Complement Phrases Cathy knew that Mary helped George That = complementizer (C) introducing complement phrase (CP) The CP comes after VP S VP CP P VP V CP C S 28 Complement Phrases 29 Transformational Rules Phrase structure rules represent deep structure- always generate structures with fixed word order. Mary saw George recently Recently Mary saw George Transformational rules= take a specific part and attach it in anor place You will help Cathy Will you help Cathy? 30 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 10

11 Transformational Rules 31 Exercises Rewrite following sentences with Phrase Structure Rules. Hint: Locate your principal P and VP before beginning. a) Miriam swims. b) The dog is barking. c) Peter told truth. d) The wicked witch spilled potion. e) The runner with best time won prize. 32 Exercises Draw a labeled tree diagram for following English phrases. (Hint: what part of speech is leader for phrase?) a. ancient pyramids b. in early evening c. Drove a car 33 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 11

12 Exercises Draw phrase structure trees for following sentences: The puppy found child The ice melted The hot sun melted ice. The house on hill collapsed in wind. The boat sailed up river. A girl laughed at monkey. George saw a dog with Mary 34 Exercises Draw two phrase structure trees representing two meanings of sentence: The magician touched child with wand. 35 Exercises In what way se sentences are ambiguous? We met an English history teacher Flying planes can be dangerous The parents of bride and groom were waiting outside The students complained to everyone that y couldn t understand. 36 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 12

13 Finally Go over exercises on page. 96 See you next class 37 Prepared by Alaa Al Mohammadi 13