Syntax 2

Question 1

Descriptive systems of morphosyntax

Answer 1

Four prototypes (isolating, agglutinating, inflectional, polysynthetic)
Two poles (analytic, synthetic)

Question 2

What is universal grammar?

Answer 2

theory that humans possess innate faculties related to the acquisition of language

Question 3

modular grammar meaning

Answer 3

theory that proposes that a language’s grammar is composed of distinct, interacting modules rather than a single, monolithic system

Question 4

Aspects in which the approaches to grammar differ

Answer 4

• formal vs. functional
• modular vs. non-modular
• relevance of meaning (role of semantics)
• generative or not (grammaticality, predictability)
• cognitive reality of ‘rules’ / ‘principles’
• relevance of (linguistic) co(n)text

Question 5

What are principles and parameters in

Answer 5

Principles: rules that apply to all human languages
Parameters: language-specific settings

Question 6

Some parameters

Answer 6

Null subject
Head directionality
Wh movement

Question 7

Mandatory elements of a phrase

Answer 7

Head, specifier, complement