properties of x-bar complements, adjuncts, & specifiers
Post on 15-Jan-2016
257 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Properties of X-bar
Complements, Adjuncts, & Specifiers.
X-bar theory
Specifier Rule: XP (YP) X’
Adjunct Rule: X’ (ZP) X’ or X’ X’ (ZP)
Complement Rule: X’ X (WP)
Predictions?
Propose three different kinds of modifiers:
specifiers complements adjuncts
Is this valid? Are there really three different kinds? Do they have different properties
Formal Definitions
Adjunct: Daughter of X’, sister to X’X’
X’ ZPX’ (ZP) X’ or X’ X’ (ZP)
Complement: Daughter of X’, sister to XX’
X WPX’ X (WP)
XP
YP X’XP (YP) X’
Specifier: Daughter of XP, sister to X’
NP
D N’
AP N’
N’ PP
N’ PP
N PP
the
big
of poems
with the red cover
from Blackwell
book
head
specifiermaximal projection
adjuncts
complement
N, N’, … NP are called the
projections of N
The book of poems
NP
D N’
N PP
of poems
the
book
The book from Blackwell
NP
D N’
N’ PP
from Blackwell
the
bookN
!quick way to distinguish complements and adjuncts in NPs (doesn’t work for other categories). Complements of N are marked with the preposition ‘of’. All other prepositions mark adjuncts. (This is not fool-proof!)
Complements always closest to head
The book [of poems] [by Burns]
head complement adjunct
*The book [by Burns] [of Poems] head adjunct complement
NP
D N’
N’ PP
N PP
the
of poems
book by burns
since complements are sister to head
Only one complement, multiple adjuncts
X’ (ZP) X’ or X’ X’ (ZP) Iterative
X’ X (WP) not iterative
the book of poems with the red cover from Blackwell in the bath
*the book of essays of poems from Blackwell
Adjuncts can be reordered
The book of poems from Blackwell with the red cover on the bus.The book of poems with the red cover from Blackwell on the bus.The book of poems with the red cover on the bus from Blackwell.?The book of poems on the bus with the red cover from Blackwell.?The book of poems on the bus from Blackwell with the red cover.?The book of poems from Blackwell on the bus with the red cover.*The book from Blackwell of poems with the red cover on the bus*The book from Blackwell with the red cover of poems on the bus*The book from Blackwell with the red cover on the bus of poems
(etc.)
Conjunction
The conjunction rule: Xn Xn Conj Xn
The red and blue house *The red and cat Complements can be conjoined with complements:
The book of poems and of essays Adjuncts can be conjoined with adjuncts
The book with the red cover and with a blue spine Complements cannot be conjoined with adjuncts
*The book of poems and with the red cover
One replacement One Replacement: replace N’ with one.
NP
D N’
N’ PP
N PP
the
of poems
book from Blackwell
can be replaced by one
can NOT be replaced by one
therefore an adjunct can follow ‘one’ but complements cannot!
One replacement
The book from Blackwell not the [N’one] from Oxford
*The book of poems not the one of essays
(There is a dialectal difference about the acceptability of
this last sentence)
Telling complements from adjuncts
Complements Adjuncts
only 1 multiple allowed
closest to head may be separatedfrom head
cannot be reordered can be reordered
conjoin withcomplements
conjoin with adjuncts
*[one]+complement [one]+adjunct
You should be able to list an
example or two of these on the
exam
Interesting ambiguity The English teacher
Teacher from England (adjunct reading) Teacher of the English language (complement)
NP
D N’
AP Nthe
Englishteacher
NP
D N’
AP N’the
EnglishteacherN
Interesting ambiguity The Spanish English teacher
(can only have language teacher reading) The English teacher of Spanish
(can only have nationality reading) The Math and English teacher
(can only have the language reading) The Canadian and English teacher
(can only have the nationality reading) The English one
(can only have the nationality reading)
An easy mistake to make!
When you have only one PP modifier or AP modifier, be very careful to see if it is a complement or adjunct. If it is an adjunct it must be a sister to the X’ level!!!!!
NP
D N’
AP N’the
bigbanana
N
this N’ is CRUCIAL!!NP
D N’
AP Nthe
bigbanana
The complement/adjunct distinction in VPs
John [VP often eats apples with a fork] adjunct head complement adjunct
In VPs, the direct object is always the complement. Other things require thought.
For example the verbs give and put take two complements a NP and PP.
I gave the apple to John (both are complements) I put the book on the table
I loved the policeman intensely with all my heart
VP
V’
V’ PP
V’ AP
V NPloved
intensely
with all my heart
the policeman
complement
adjuncts
Adverbial NPs
He read faithfully every day. What does the tree look look like?
Is “faithfully” an adjunct? * He read faithfully his syntax book.
What can we conclude about how “every day” and “his syntax book”?
Complements come closer to the head than adjuncts
Only 1 occurrence of each complement *I loved the policeman the fireman
Reordering I loved the policeman with all my heart intensely I loved the policeman intensely with all my heart *I loved intensely the policeman with all my heart *I loved intensely with all my heart the policeman
Conjunction I loved the policeman and the fireman I loved the policeman intensely and with all my heart *I loved the policemand and intensely
Do so replacementSusan loved the policemen intensely with all her heart but/and
Mary did so with her brain! Mary did so mildly with her brain *Mary did so the fireman
APs and PPs???
Evidence is much weaker. very afraid of tigers adjunct head complement
very in love with himself adjunct head complement ???? a man in love with all his heart ? a man in love with all his heart
with himself We will assume the distinction
exists here
Specifiers
The only element we have seen in specifiers so far is the determiner. In the next chapter, we’ll argue that even these aren’t real specifiers.
Instead, we’ll argue the specifier is where subjects are generated. More on this later.
For now, understand the definition (sister to X’, daughter of XP), and put determiners there.
Summary
Specifier: sister to X’, daughter of XP Adjunct: sister to X’, daughter of X’ Complement: sister to X, daughter of X’ X-bar theory predicts differences in behavior
between complements and adjuncts only one complement, multiple adjuncts complement must be closest to head adjuncts can be reordered conjunction *One/did so + complement
Summary
Complement/Adjunct distinction hold of pre-head material too.
The C/A distinction can capture ambiguity There is strong evidence for the C/A
distinction in NPs and VPs The evidence for APs and PPs is weaker We are leaving specifiers aside for the
moment as something to be dealt with later.
top related