Syntax 2 - X' Theory, Wh-Movement, Pronouns: Binding & C-Command Flashcards
The Purpose of X’ Theory
Refine and Improve upon P.S Rules.
Formalises an intuition about closeness, that the complement is closer to X than the specifier, (the complement is more often obligatory).
- this is evidenced by phrases such as ‘very [angry with John] and [worried about Mary]’.
‘endocentric’
contains a head
According to X’ what does every endocentric phrase contain?
How is this represented in rules (for a bare tree
for English ordering)
XP - (specifier) X (complement)
XP > specifier X’
X’ > X complement
What is the maximal projection?
XP
What is the intermedial projection?
X’
Do you need to include XP & X’ if the whole phrase just consists of X?
YES
In X’ theory, are auxiliary verbs a constituent of VP?
NO - different grammatical category:
they can’t be elided
separated in qs and tag qs
behave differently with negatives
Sentences like ‘John [should talk to this man] and [will then get on with his day]’ show that there is a constituent with aux & VP.
TP!
CP >
CP > spec C’
C’ > C TP
(TP is the obligatory complement of C)
How to show adjuncts as distinct from complements in X’?
Use VP as example.
Complement:
VP > (spec) V’
V’ > V complement
Adjunct:
VP > (spec) V’
V’ > V’ adjunct
V’ > V (complement)
How does the difference in structure for adjuncts account for ‘do so’ substitution.
‘Do so’ takes the place of V’. Because there are 2 V’s this explains how the adjunct can be included in or excluded from the substitution.
How to represent determiners in the specifier?
DP > (spec) D’
D’ > D (comp)
Represent possessives e.g John’s cat
NP > DP N’
DP > spec (John) D’
D’ > D (‘s)
N’ > N (cat)
Category of possessives like ‘my’?
D
Non-restrictive relative clause vs restrictive relative clause?
Non-restrictive: the norwegians, who are rich, send their children away. (the norwegians, all of whom are rich, all send their children away).
Restrictive: the norwegians who are rich, send their children away.
(the rich norwegians send their children away, the others don’t.)
Domains associated with different levels of X’ phrases?
CP - discourse domain
TP - anchoring domain (temporal/mood)
VP - thematic domain
Can you stack specifiers?
NO.
How to account for stackable modifiers to the left of X’?
Adjuncts! head final adjuncts.
Any differing letter notations from PS rules?
AP instead of AdjP TP instead of S T instead of Aux CP instead of S' C instead of COMP DP instead of DetP (if that's a thing lol)
category of ‘than’?
than her : preposition
than she is : complementiser
How to deal with multiple auxiliaries?
TP > spec T’
T’ > T (should) TP
TP > spec T’
T’ > T (have) VP
Complexities with temporal adjuncts?
Do you want to apply to VP or whole TP (and which TP). Depends. Probably for other adjuncts too lolz.
locative information TENDS to be
adjunct don’t hold me to it lol do ur best to figure it out
Do we only need building rules in grammar?
No! Movement Rules! These manipulate structures by moving elements into different positions.
How does the X’ schema allow movement
Fronting is possible due to the empty Spec CP position.
Types of Movement Rules:
Head movement, NP movement, Wh Movement
What is head movement?
subject auxiliary inversion - auxiliary moves from T-C leaving trace t