Syntax Sentence Structures

Generative Grammar This is the idea that grammar has a finite number of rules, BUT is capable of producing an infinite number of sentences. Every language has a generative grammar.

Surface vs. Deep structures Surface structure is the superficial appearance of a sentence. Ex: Charlie broke the window. (ACTIVE voice) The window was broken by Charlie. (PASSIVE voice) These sentences have different surface structures.

Deep structure The deep structure is the meaning of the sentence. Ex: Charlie broke the window. The window was broken by Charlie. These sentences have the same deep structure.

Structural ambiguity This occurs when the surface structure is not sufficiently clear. Mary whacked a man with an umbrella. This could mean that Mary used an umbrella to whack a man OR it can mean that Mary whacked a man who had an umbrella.

Recursion Recursion is the repeating of any rule a number of times. For example, prepositional phrases can be added to sentences endlessly: The child is in a chair in the bedroom near the window on the far side of the house. Recursion is how we make complex sentences – by adding sentences inside one another.

Recursion Example of recursion being used: Mary helped George. Cathy knew that Mary helped George. John believed that Cathy knew that Mary helped George.

Universal Grammar UG is the idea that everyone is born with the ability to learn a grammar. UG was posed by Chomsky. The parameters that a person learns depends on their environment. p1XE