Syntax strikes Back Students, I am your answer. “But what is the question?” “To be or not to be, duh, that’s the question” “yeah, I know, but what does that mean?”

Today’s Essential Questions: How can Yoda help us understand Shakespeare? What is syntax? What is the difference between standard and nonstandard syntax? How does syntax help us understand Shakespeare?

How can Yoda help us with the Bard? Yoda speaks in a particular grammatical structure that Shakespeare also uses. Yoda tends to speak with nonstandard syntax, while we speak in standard syntax. Wait… syn… what?

What is Syntax? Study of structure of language Refers to the way words are arranged together, and the relationship between them. (what we perceive when someone says something) to semantics (what that utterance means) We don’t care WHAT is being said, just HOW it is said (in regards to syntax)

Linguistics!! What is Syntax not? Phonology: study of sound systems and how sounds combine Morphology: study of how words are formed from smaller parts (morphemes) Semantics: study of meaning of language Linguistics!!

Looking at Structure Some words: the a small nice big very boy girl sees likes Some good sentences: the boy likes a girl the small girl likes the big girl a very small nice boy sees a very nice boy Some bad sentences: *the boy the girl *small boy likes nice girl Can we find words which in some way behave alike?

Looking at Structure good sentences: the boy likes a girl the small girl likes the big girl a very small nice boy sees a very nice boy Who? Does what? To What?

Looking at Structure the boy likes a girl Who? Does what? To What? Subject Verb Object

SVO Every sentence has a Subject, Verb, and (sometimes) an Object. Standard Syntax is SVO The cat eats its dinner. The boy plays chess.

Non Standard Syntax (aka, Yoda and Shakespeare Keeping in mind that these guys don’t always uses SVO, let’s see what they do use. Found someone you have Help you I can My home this is Stay and help you I will

Non Standard Syntax (aka, Yoda and Shakespeare Keeping in mind that these guys don’t always uses SVO, let’s see what they do use. From yesterday, Yoda says: Found someone you have. Help you I can. My home this is. Stay and help you I will.

Back of your sheet: Hint: Identify SVO in each sentence first, then try rearranging it. DO NOT CHANGE WORDS OR ADD WORDS. You don’t have to know what the word means. Look at how it FUNCTIONS in the sentence. Shakespeare says: She it is. To strike him dead I hold it not a sin. There will I stay for thee.

Homework: Finish the worksheets

Expand: Standard and Non-standard Syntax Worksheet She it is. (Measure for Measure, 1.4.51) To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. (Romeo and Juliet, 1.4.85) There will I stay for thee. (A Midsummer Night’s dream, 1.1.170) Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia. (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 1.1.23‐24) Younger than you, Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are made already mothers.. (Romeo and Juliet, 1.3.75) This day my sister should the cloister enter and there receive her approbation. (Measure for Measure, 1.2.175‐176)

Expand: Standard and Non-standard Syntax Worksheet She it is. To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. There will I stay for thee.

Expand: Standard and Non-standard Syntax Worksheet V S Full of vexation come I, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia. come I There is no object. Simple sentence: I come. Phrases and clauses: Full of vexation, with complaint, against my child, my daughter Hermia I come, full of vexation, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia. I, full of vexation, come, with complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia. With complaint against my child, my daughter Hermia, I come, full of vexation.

Expand: Standard and Non-standard Syntax Worksheet V O Younger than you, here in Verona, ladies of esteem, are made already mothers. Simple Sentence: Ladies are made mothers (already in SVO) Younger than you, here in Verona, ladies of esteem, are made already mothers. All of these are adjective phrases!!! (see how grammar is helpful?) Ladies of esteem, younger than you, here in Verona already are made mothers. Ladies, here in Verona, younger than you, of esteem are made mothers already. Ladies younger than you, here in Verona, of esteem are already made mothers.

Expand: Standard and Non-standard Syntax Worksheet V (split) V (split) V O This day my sister should the cloister enter and there receive her approbation. conjunction Warning: Compound Sentence!!! Simple sentence: My sister should enter the cloister Simple sentence: My sister should receiver her approbation. Compound: My sister should enter the cloister and receive her approbation. This day= archaic. We normally say today My sister should enter the cloister and receiver her approbation there this day. This day, my sister should enter the cloister and receiver her approbation there. My sister, this day, should enter the cloister, and there receiver her approbation. My sister should enter the cloister this day, and receive there her approbation. NOTICE=== nothing from first simple sentence gets put into second half, except for “this day” and all the actions are referring to the same time period.

Part 2: Making sense of it all. She it is. To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin. There will I stay for thee.