Test #1

Question 1

Generative Grammar

Answer 1

Represents a sentence’s syntactic properties in terms of ‘tree’ structures that are built by explicitly stated formal operations.

Question 2

Universal Grammar (UG)

Answer 2

The inborn system of categories and principles that explains why human language has the particular properties that it does.

Question 3

Core Grammar

Answer 3

Each language has its own core grammar that is assigned by UG because languages can set the available parameters in different ways.

Question 4

Periphery

Answer 4

The rest of the language’s grammar - which may well cover the vast majority of its syntactic phenomena. Things not explained/managed by the core grammar.

Question 5

Heads

Answer 5

The nucleus around which phrases are built

Question 6

Specifiers

Answer 6

Elements which help make more precise the meaning of the head

Question 7

Compliments

Answer 7

Elements whose existence is implied by the meaning of the head

Question 8

The 3 claims of the X’ Schema

Answer 8

1. Every phrase consists of a head that projects to an X’ level and an XP level.
2. The head and its complement combine to form an X’ constituent.
3. The specifier combines with the X’ constituent to form an XP, the so-called ‘maximal projection.’

Question 9

The Head Parameter:

Answer 9

The head precedes/follows its complement.

head-initial (English) or head-final (Japanese)

Question 10

Three types of Constituency test

Answer 10

1. Movement
2. Substitution
3. Coordination

Question 11

Movement

Answer 11

If a sequence of words can be moved as a unit, it is a constituent.

Question 12

Substitution

Answer 12

If a sequence of words can be ‘replaced’ by an item that refers back to it, it is a constituent.

Question 13

Coordination

Answer 13

If a sequence of words can be coordinated with a constituent, then it too is a constituent.

Question 14

Complement

Answer 14

An element whose existence is somehow implied by the semantics of the head.

Question 15

Adjunct

Answer 15

An element that provides optional information about properties of the head.

Question 16

Hints for distinguishing Complements from Adjuncts

Answer 16

• Time phrases are always adjuncts
• AdvPs are adjuncts
• Direct objects and indirect objects are always complements
• Directional Pos headed by of, to, onto, into, and from are typically compliments.
• Pos headed by prepositions with a non-spatial or non-temporal meaning (talk about, speak of) are typically complements.
• Complements my be obligatory; adjuncts are always optional.

Question 17

Subcategorization

Answer 17

A head is said to subcategorize, or select, its complement and are listed in its lexical entry.

i.e. to hit - _NP
to put - _ NP PP
to dash - _PP

Question 18

The Projection Principle

Answer 18

Lexical requirements must be satisfied at all syntactic levels (DS, SS, and LF).

Question 19

Functional Categories

Answer 19

Categories (Tense, Complementizer, Determiner) in the syntax trees that do not have lexical head but functional/grammatical ones.

Arose because categories, like INFL, should be subject to the X-bar schema just as lexical categories, like NP and VP, are. This avoid the need to non-binary branching.

Question 20

Aspectual Auxiliaries

Answer 20

Treated as ‘defective’ Vs that take VP complements instead of being placed in the I node with modal auxiliaries.

Question 21

T node

Answer 21

Contains TAM information, infinitival marker, and modal auxiliaries.

Modals were moved here because they are the tense bearing unit of a verb complex. So, makes sense.

Question 22

CP

Answer 22

Contains the complementizers and provides a spot for questions word/order.

‘force’ of a sentence (statement vs question)

Question 23

Lexical Categories

Answer 23

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, and prepositions.

Question 24

Rationale for Ds being considered heads

Answer 24

1. They enter into agreement relationships (as verbs do) this book vs. these books
2. In head-initial languages Ds combine with phrasal constituents to their right (as verbs do).
   a [book about ancient history]
3. Ds differ in terms of whether they require a complement (as verbs also do). A/the require a NP but this/that do not.

Question 25

The possession relation:

Answer 25

The possessor is a DP and the possess thing is an NP

Question 26

Degree words

Answer 26

Occupy the SPEC of AP

Question 27

SPEC Position

Answer 27

- Originally had a semantic characterization for making a more specific referent of the head - Currently its a purely structural position reserved for XPs.

Question 28

Theta Theory

Answer 28

Provides an inventory of thematic roles and general principles governing their assignments.

Question 29

Major Thematic Roles

Answer 29

``` Agent: entity instigating action Patient/Theme: entity undergoing action Goal: end point for movement Source: starting point for the movement Location: the place where an event occurs ```

Question 30

The Theta Criterion:

Answer 30

Every argument receives one and only one thematic role. Every thematic role must be assigned to one and only one argument.

Question 31

Theta postion

Answer 31

The position to which the theta role is assigned.

Question 32

Internal argument

Answer 32

Receives its role within the projection of the head. Objects receiving theme role from the verb.

Question 33

External argument

Answer 33

Receives its role outside the projection of the head. Subjects receiving agent role from the T node.

Question 34

The Uniformity of Theta Assignment Hypothesis (UTAH)

Answer 34

An element's D-structure position determines its thematic role, and an element's thematic role determines it's D-structure position.

Question 35

The VP-internal Subject Hypothesis

Answer 35

All roles except the agent role are assigned inside the projection of lexical head. Advantages: - VPs now get to take XPs in the spec position and assign all theta roles within the phrasal projection - Explains those sentences that's subjects stays in the SPEC position when blocked by an expletive subject. - Offers a straightforward account for VSO word orders. - Allows for VP ellipsis - Floated (and dropped quantifiers) in English.

Question 36

Merge

Answer 36

A basic structure building operation that brings together constituents, creating phrases that comply with the X-bar Schema. Basically adding nodes within the tree structure.

Question 37

Move

Answer 37

A basic structure building operation that operates on an already built tree structure, moving a constituent to a new position. Basically, traces.

Question 38

Trace

Answer 38

A phonetically empty copy of itself in the position from which it moved. Traces have no internal structure.

Question 39

Xo Movement

Answer 39

Movement of a head to another head position via adjunction. Ex: Auxiliary movement from T to C

Question 40

XP Movement

Answer 40

Movement of a phrasal category to an empty specifier position. Two types: A movement and A' movement

Question 41

A movement

Answer 41

Movement to a position in which an argument can occur in D-structure (essentially a subject or complement in traditional framework) Ex. Unaccusative and Passivization

Question 42

A' movement

Answer 42

Movement to a position to which a that role is never assigned. (Spec of CP) Ex. Wh-questions and Relative clauses