Syntax Flashcards
When we concentrate on the structure of a sentence, what are we studying?
The syntax of a language
Where does the word ‘syntax’ originate from and what does it literally translate to?
Originates from Greek, means “putting together” or “arrangement”
What is structural ambiguity?
The possibility of a sentence having multiple interpretations due to the way words are organized
What does the “all and only” criterion mean?
Our analysis of the syntax of a language must account for all and only grammatically correct phrase and sentence
What is generative grammar?
A set of rules defining the possible sentences in a language
What are phrase structure rules?
Rules stating that the structure of a phrase of a specific type consists of one or more components in a particular order
What is the purpose of lexical rules?
To specify which words can be used when we rewrite components of a sentence, such as using a pronoun in place of a proper noun.
What visual representation allows us to display the syntactic structure of a sentence?
A tree diagram
