Chapter 12: Constituency - Movement and Substitution

Question 1

constituency

Answer 1

‘constituents are strings of one or more words that syntactically and semantically behave as units’ (Aarts 199)

Question 2

constituency tests

Answer 2

A practical procedure to test whether or not a particular string of words is a constituent. (Aarts 200)

Question 3

Movement tests

Answer 3

‘If we can move a particular string of words in a sentence from one position to another, then it behaves as a constituent.’ (Aarts 201)

Question 4

VP-Preposing

Answer 4

The movement of a VP from its normal position in the clause to the beginning of that clause.
e.g. James said he would walk the dog, and walk the dog he will.
It can only apply if the sentence contains an auxiliary like ‘will’ or ‘did’. It is notable that the auxiliary is left behind and is therefore not part of the VP (therefore are dominated by I not VP). This can also be used to test sentences w/o an auxiliary by adding one.

Question 5

Though-movement

Answer 5

A type of topicalisation used to move a phrase to a clause-initial position.
e.g. a. Though she is young, she is smart.
b. [Young] though she is –, she is smart.
We can use though-movement to check delimitations of the sentence ie whether AdvV are included in the phrase.

Question 6

Heavy-NP-Shift

Answer 6

The movement of a heavy DO to the end of the sentence.

eg. I brought – home [all my chemistry and biology textbooks].

Question 7

Extraposition of Subject Clauses

Answer 7

The movement of a Subject clause from a clause initial to a caluse-final position. This movement is know as extraposition.
e.g. Two women – appeared [in red dresses].
e.g. [That the homework was set], was annoying.
ENP seems to be more acceptable if the VP is relatively light like if contains an intransitive or raising verb ‘seem, appear, become’ etc

Question 8

Extraposition from NP

Answer 8

When a relative clause is displaced from the Subject NP. e.g. The cat – ran way [that belonged to my neighbour].

Question 9

Substitution Tests

Answer 9

A particular strong of words is a constituent if it can be substituted by a suitable proform. (Aarts 211)

Question 10

Proform Substitution

Answer 10

A particular strong of words is a constituent if it can be substituted by a suitable proform. (Aarts 211)
eg My mother loves my father
She loves him
Therefore ‘my mother’ and ‘my father’ must be constituents.

Question 11

One-substitution

Answer 11

The proform ‘one’ replaces N’ constituents.

Question 12

Do so-substitution

Answer 12

‘Do so’ replaces V’ constituents.