Phrase structure rules
Some words seem to belong together:
o {The crazy man} {is jumping off the bridge}
Groups of words that belong together are called constituents The component that determines the properties of the constituent is the head, and the constituent can be referred to as a phrase: e.g. noun phrase
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If we look at phrases, some patterns emerge: Det N the instructor = NP Det N a friend = NP Det N some homework = NP Det N two classes = NP
Another patterns: V Det N call the instructor= VP V Det N meet a friend = VP V Det N do some homework = VP V Det N skip two classes = VP
and yet more patterns: Prep Det N with the instructor= PP Prep Det N from a friend = PP Prep Det N with some homework = PP Prep Det N after two classes = PP
Phrase Structure Rules
Rules for determining the 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 NP consist of ?
o noun phrases have a Det and a N
NP
Det N
Constituents in a sentence
Sentence
Noun phrase (NP) Verb phrase (VP)
Det
V
Det
NP
N P
PP
NP
Det
The children put the toy in the
N
box
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Phrase Structure Rules
V Det N V Det N V Det N
run a marathon
V Prep Det N
eat the food
V Prep Det N
read the book
V Det N Prep Det N
go to the store
talk with a teacher
take your sister to the library
Verb phrases have a V, (sometimes) an NP, and (sometimes) a PP
VP -> V (NP) (PP)
The main phrase structure rules
1. S NP VP 2. NP {Det N, Pro, PN}
3. VP V (NP) (PP) (CP)
4. PP P NP 5. CP C S
Phrase Structure Rules & tree diagrams
NP (Det) N PP P NP
The boy (NP) Det The N boy
the boy in the yard NP Det N P Det The boy in the PP NP N yard
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Phrase Structure Rules
VP V (NP) (PP)
took the money (VP) V Det NP N took the money from the bank VP V Det NP N P Det took the money from the PP NP N bank
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took
the
money
Example (1)
S NP VP VP V (NP) (PP)
S
The old tree swayed in the wind
NP VP
Det
Adjctve
V
P
PP
NP
Det
The old tree swayed in the
N
wind
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Example (2)
The children put the toy in the box
S
NP VP
Det
V
Det
NP
N P
PP
NP
Det
The children put the toy in the
N
box
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Example 3
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Back to Generative Grammar
How superficially different sentences are closely related? How superficially similar sentences are different?
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Deep and surface structure
The deep structure is an abstract level of structural organization in which all the elements determining structural interpretation are represented.
o Sentences that have alternative interpretations o Sentences that have different surface forms but have the same underlying meaning.
Surface structure= how the sentence is actually represented
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Deep and surface structure
How superficially different sentences are closely related? o Charlie broke the window. o The window was broken by Charlie o Charlie who broke the window. o Was the window broken by Charlie?
Difference in their surface structure = difference in syntactic forms BUT they have the same deep or underlying structure
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Structural ambiguity
How superficially similar sentences are different? (multiple meanings) E.g. Annie whacked the man with an umbrella
Same surface structure but different deep structure
o The boy saw the man with a telescope
The question is: What is the scope of "with the telescope"? Does it modify only "the man" or does it modify "saw the man"?
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Structural Ambiguity (1) The boy saw the man with the telescope
S
NP VP
Det
V
Det
NP
N P
PP
NP
Det
The boy saw the
man with the telescope
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Meaning: Using the telescope, the boy saw the man
Structural Ambiguity (2)
The boy saw the man with the telescope
S NP Det N V Det N P Det The boy saw the VP NP PP NP N
man with the telescope
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Meaning: The boy saw the man. The man had a telescope.
Recursion
Rules can be applied more than once in generating sentences E.g. repeat prepositional phrase more than once Put sentences inside sentences
o The gun was on the table near the window in the bedroom in the pink house o This is the cat that ate the rat that ate the cheese that was sold by the man that lived in the city that was on the river
No end to recursion- produce longer complex sentences
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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 the complement phrase
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Complement Phrases
Cathy knew that Mary helped George That = complementizer (C) introducing complement phrase (CP) The CP comes after the VP S NP VP VP V CP CP C S
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Complement Phrases
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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 another place You will help Cathy Will you help Cathy?
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Transformational Rules
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