Syntax Flashcards
Define
“Construct”
Phrases and sentences which instantiate general constructions.
Define
“Constraint”
An aspect of form or meaning that is part of the specification of a construction.
Define
“Scene Encoding Hypotesis”
Basic sentence level constructions encode event types that are basic to human experience.
Define
“Semantic Coherence Principle”
A verb can only combine with a construction if the participants of the verb and the construction match semantically.
Define
“Thematic Roles”
Generalizations of participant roles.
Define
“Coercion”
The meaning of a lexical item may vary systematically with the context.
Define
“Argument structure”
A relationship between a predicate (verb meaning) and the participants inherent in the activity, state, or event.
Define
“Non-compositional meaning”
The meaning that associates with a given construction and is not the result of component meanings.
Define
“Construct-i-con”
- Key Point: Integrates lexicon and syntax into one unified system.
- Definition: The mental inventory of all constructions (form-meaning pairings) in a language, including words, idioms, and syntactic patterns.
Define
“D & G model of language knowledge”
- Key Point: Highlights the integration of grammar with real-world discourse contexts.
- Definition: The “Discourse and Grammar” model that combines formal grammar rules with how language is used in communication.
Define
“Generalization”
- Key Point: Enables the application of familiar patterns to new sentences.
- Definition: The process by which constructions are extended to new contexts beyond their original use.
Define
“Criterion of non-predictability”
- Key Point: Justifies storing certain expressions as fixed wholes.
- Definition: A principle stating that some constructions have meanings that cannot be predicted from their parts.
Define
“Coercion”
- Key Point: Context drives reinterpretation, altering usual semantics.
- Definition: When a construction forces a word or phrase to take on an unexpected meaning or function.
Define
“Collocation”
- Key Point: Reflects entrenched usage patterns in language.
- Definition: Frequent co-occurrence of specific words, forming fixed expressions.
BIG MESS
quite helpful a lesson
THE X-ER THE Y-ER
the sooner the better
LET ALONE
wouldn’t loan you $1 let alone $100
PASSIVE
George was kicked
IMPERATIVE
Do your homework!
MEASUREMENT AS MODIFIER
three-hour wait
NOT MUCH OF A NOUN
this isn’t much of a party
TOUGH-RAISING
syntax is easy to learn
RESULTATIVE
elected her president
DITRANSITIVE
toss her the book
