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Chapter Four Syntax Outline 4. 1 Definition 4. 2 Word-level categories 4. 3 Phrase categories 4. 4 Phrase structure rule 4. 5 Sentences (The S rule) 4. 6 Transformations 4. 7 Task 4.1 Definition It’s a kind of micro linguistics that studies how words are combined to form sentences and the rules that govern the formation of sentences. (Transformational syntax to be introduced in the book.) 4.2 Word-level categories Category refers to a group of linguistic items which fulfill the same or similar functions in a particular language. Traditionally, category is termed as “parts of speech”. 4.2.1 Major lexical categories and minor lexical categories: Examples of some lexical categories 4.2.2 Tree criteria To Determine a word’s category, three criteria are usually played. Word category often bear some relationship with its meaning. Words of different categories take different inflections. Distribution means a certain type of elements can co-occur with a certain word. Meaning: John, pen, book, pretty lady, left quietly Inflection: plural affixes, tenses, degrees Distribution: the girl, a card, should stay, will help 4.3 Phrase categories Definition: A word or group of words written or spoken as a unit and separated by pauses or other junctures. Types: Noun phrase Eg: (NP): the pretty girl Verb phrase (VP): often dream Adjective phrase (AP): very pessimistic Prepositional phrase (PP): in the house Adverbial phrase (ADVP) : very quickly (Wen, p. 118) Phrases that are formed of more than one word usually contain the elements: Head, specifier (标志语) and complement. 4.4 Phrase structure rule 4.4.1 Introduction: NP (Det) N (PP) … VP (Qual) V (NP) … AP (Deg) A (PP) … PP (Deg) P