Syntax III Mapping Ambiguity Gareth Price Duke University Rules for Lectures in Syntax Why analyse Syntax It tells us the structure of sentences It satisfies a curiosity about language in the same as eg Crosswords and for numbers Sudoku ID: 761684
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Syntax III: Mapping Ambiguity Gareth Price – Duke University
Rules for Lectures in Syntax
Why analyse Syntax?It tells us the structure of sentences It satisfies a curiosity about language in the same as e.g. Crosswords and, for numbers, Sudoku Drawing trees is a great party trick ... a nd kills a few hours on the bus.
What does it tell us about the structure of sentences?
Recall:XP = {spec} + X’ then X’ = X + YP / YP + X (complement = necessary to the operation of the sentence) or X’ = YP + X’ / X’ + YP (adjunct = incidental to the operation of the sentence)
New housing project for elderly not yet dead
New housing project for elderly not yet deadTwo meanings: (a) new housing project for (the) elderly (is) not yet dead (in e.g. the House) (a) new housing project (is) for (the) elderly (who are) not yet dead
Two meanings: {literal} Surface structure / Phonetic Form [PF] There is a housing project for the elderly (who are not yet dead) {contextual} Deep structure / Logical form [LF] A housing project for the elderly is still viable / being discussed
PFDid you hear that whale?LF Did you hear that wail? = no such thing as context-free language
NP VP V’ PP N’ P’ AP A’ NP NP N’ N’ Adv.P Adv.’ AP A’ A N N V P N Neg Adv A New housing project is for elderly not yet dead
NP VP V’ PP N’ P’ AP A’ NP NP N’ N’ Adv.P Adv.’ AP A’ A N N P N V Neg Adv A New housing project for elderly is not yet dead
Complaints Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly
Complaints Against ACC Referees [are] Growing Ugly
Complaints [are] Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly
[There are] Complaints Against ACC Referees Growing Ugly
Recall: Case marking Canis hominem mordet Canem hominis mordet
EMT Team Help Dog Bite Man
I shot the Sheriff with a badge
I shot the Sheriff with a gun
I shot the Sheriff with my boots on
Flowers ate the desks with my boots
Colourless green bottles sleep furiously
Det. Adj. N V Adv. PP Det. N
Det. Adj. N V Adv. P Det. N The acturous parples thrustle grimulously in the glosselthrop
What does syntax learn us?