简明英语语言学教程Chapter4Syntax

4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories 3) Three criteria are used to determine a
word’s category. ➢ Meaning: word categories bear
relationship with meaning n.: entities (human beings, objects) v.: action, sensations, states adj.: attribute of entities adv.: the properties and attributes of the actions, sensations and states
Syntactic category: a word (called a word/lexical category) or a phrase (called a phrase category) that performs a particular function in a sentence.
4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories 2) Types
➢ The car stopped at the end of the road.
Det N V
P ቤተ መጻሕፍቲ ባይዱet N P Det N
4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories Exercise: Indicate the category of each
word in the following sentences.
4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories 3) Three criteria are used to determine a
word’s category.
➢ distribution: what type of elements can co-occur with a certain word. n.: determiner v.: auxiliary adj.: degree word
4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories Exercise: Indicate the category of each
word in the following sentences. ➢ The old lady suddenly left.
Det A N Qual V
Syntax
4.1 What is syntax? Syntax: (Greek) arrangement A branch of linguistics that studies the
rules that govern the formation of sentences. ➢ the composition of sentences: wordlevel categories & phrase categories; ➢ rules governing the organization of different categories into larger structural units: phrase structure rule & sentence rule
➢ The snow might have blocked the road.
Det A Aux Aux V
Det N
➢ He never appears quite mature.
N Qual V
Deg A
4.2 Categories 2. Phrase categories and their structures Discussion: Which sentence is not considered grammatical? a. The student liked the linguistics lecture. b. The linguistics lecture liked the student. c. Liked the student the linguistics lecture.
4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories 3) Three criteria are used to determine a
word’s category.
➢ Inflection: words of different categories take different inflections. n.: -s v.: -ed, -ing adj.: -er, -est
➢ Is he really that kind? ➢ They can fish here.
4.2 Categories 1. Word-level categories 1) Definition Category: a group of linguistic items (a sentence, a noun phrase, a verb) which fulfill the same or similar functions in a particular language.
➢ Major lexical category: (heads) Noun, Verb, Adjective, Preposition
➢ Minor lexical category: Determiner, Degree words, Qualifier, Auxiliary, Conjunction
4.2 Categories Discussion:
➢ What can you fill in the context “The ________ is smiling.”?
4.2 Categories Discussion:
Discuss the possible meanings of the following sentences. What causes the different interpretations of each of these sentences?