LIN232H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Phrase Structure Rules, Cleft Sentence, Tree Structure
Document Summary
Constituents: a group of words that function together as a unit. The structure in which constituents are imbedded inside one another to form larger and larger constituents. Phase structure rules (psr): rules that generate the phrase structure tree of a sentence. The label for the constituent consists of the elements that make up the constituent. + indicates as many times as needed. Vp -> (advp+) v (np) {np/cp} (advp+) (pp+) (advp+) Head - the word that gives the category to the phrase. Principle of modification (informal): modifiers are always attached within the phrase they modify. Principle of modification (revised): if an xp (i. e. , a phrase with some category x) modifies some head y, then xp must be a sister to y (i. e. , a daughter of yp) Asymmetric relationship: xp modifies y but y does not modify xp. Recursion: possibility of loops in a phrase structure rules that allow infinitely long sentences and explain the creativity of language.
