Syntax Flashcards
Coercion
a lexical item forced in to a construction
Constraint
rules about what a construction can(‘t) include/ an aspect of form or meaning that is part of the specification of a construction
Construction
form meaning pair
Constructicon
Collection of construction
Construct
phrases and sentences which instantiate general construction
Collocation
The tendency for certain words to occur together more frequently than would be expected by chance.
Argument structure
arguments required by a predicate
Event structure
usually refers to the generalized, abstract semantic structure of a verb. The verbs remove or smash, for example, have an event structure that includes a result, while verbs such as bounce or poke indicate a process without a result.
Dictionary and grammar model
A model of linguistic knowledge whereby semantic features are based predominantly on lexical items
Null instantiation - check ppt
not all arguments in a verb’s argument structure are expressed
Thematic roles
Generalisations of participant roles
Generalisation (in CG)
The process where speakers identify common patterns in language use to create general ideas or rules.
These rules help them understand and use language more easy
Semantic coherence principle
A verb can only combine with a construction if the participants of the verb and the construction match semantically
Scene encoding hypothesis
Basic sentence level constructions encode types that are basic to human experience
Example: a ditransitive which is very metaphorical like:
(John gave me a look of disapproval.)
Or usually only have a monotransitive meaning like:
(John baked me my favourite cookies)
Have a giving event as its central semantic frame,
Lexical items are coerced into the ditransitive meaning.
Non-compositional meaning
When the meaning of a phrase/expression is not predictable from the meanings of its parts
[The meaning that associates with a given construction and is not the result of component meaninings)
THE CAUSED MOTION construction
X causes Y to move towards Z
Where one entity causes another to move or change state
V + SUB + OBJ + OBL
What is an example of The CAUSED MOTION construction?
She pushed her brother off the swing
What is a constraint of The CAUSED MOTION construction?
The agent cannot be an instrument
The PASSIVE
shifts the focus of a sentence from the subject performing the action to object receiving the action
What is an example of The PASSIVE construction?
He was hired as the new manager. Selene was fired.
What is a constraint of The PASSIVE construction?
Obligatory to have the word ‘be’
The WAY construction
expresses the manner/method in which something is done
What is an example of The WAY construction?
She flirted her way into the club
What is a constraint of The WAY construction?
The subject is animate and an intentional agent
The IMPERATIVE construction
give commands, make requests, offer invitations
What is an example of The IMPERATIVE construction?
Don’t let the dog get in the bath
What is a constraint of The IMPERATIVE construction?
It cannot combine with modal auxiliaries (does not combine with all passives)
The DITRANSITIVE construction
X causes Y to receive Z
What is an example of The DITRANSITIVE construction?
Sarah passed Grace the salad
What is a constraint of The DITRANSITIVE construction?
The subject is a willing agent
What is an example of The X-ER THE Y-ER construction?
The deeper the water, the uglier the fish
What is a constraint of The X-ER THE Y-ER construction?
Each part must contain the definite article and a comparative structure
What is an example of The WXDY construction?
What’s the dog doing in the bath
What is a constraint of The WXDY construction?
the NP is in location or engaged in activity denoted by the verb
The JBXDMY construction
Just because X doesn’t mean Y
What is an example of The JBXDMY construction?
Just because its your birthday, doesn’t mean you can have a bath with the dog
What is a constraint of The JBXDMY construction?
JB must be ‘Just Because’
What is an example of The BIG MESS construction?
That gentle a person
What is a constraint of The BIG MESS construction?
The nominal must be indefinite and singular
The RESULTATIVE construction
Cause-become
Used to express the result or outcome of an action
V + SUB + OBJ + OBL + AP/PP
What is an example of The RESULTATIVE construction?
Measurement as a modifier
refers to using expressions of quantity, size, or amount to modify nouns
What is an example of Measurement as a modifier?
A six-foot pole
Let alone construction
Used to emphasise that icon thing is true then another, often more extreme is also true
What is an example of The Let alone construction?
She couldn’t meet her target grades, let alone exceed them
‘Not much of a’ Noun construction
used to express that something is not very good or not significant interns of its quality for quantity
What is an example of The ‘Not much of a’ Noun construction?
He’s not much of a footballer
The TOUGH RAISING construction
Fen Inkwright is wonderful to read
