Introduction to Syntax and Semantics: Language Structure and Meaning

Syntax

Traditionally considered a component of grammar; deals with the linguistic theories underlying the structure of phrases and sentences - describes hidden rules.

Semantics

The study of meaning in language.

Deep structure

The underlying linguistic representation of a phrase or sentence.

Surface structure

The observable presentation of the phrase or sentence.

Structural ambiguity

When a sentence can have multiple meanings due to its structure.

Noun phrase (NP)

A phrase that must have a noun (or noun phrase, serving as subject) and can include articles, adjectives, and pronouns.

Verb phrase (VP)

A phrase that includes a verb and can include objects and modifiers.

Prepositional phrase (PP)

A phrase that begins with a preposition and includes a noun phrase.

Syntactic analysis

The process of analyzing the structure of sentences.

Sentence definition

A grammatical construction that must contain a subject and a verb.

Semantic anomalies

Syntactically well-formed sentences that violate semantic rules.

Referential meaning

The 'dictionary' meaning of a word.

Associative/Emotive meaning

Personal or qualitative associations that individuals have with a word.

Types of meaning

Different categories of meaning that words can convey.

Semantic features

Characteristics that help define the meaning of a word.

Prototypes

Typical examples of a category that help define its meaning.

Semantic relationships

Connections between words based on their meanings.

Thematic roles

The functions that participants play in the context of a sentence.

Syntactic trees

Diagrams that represent the structure of sentences and show the relationships between words.

Grammar

Defines the rules of a language.

Ambiguity in sentences

When a sentence can be interpreted in more than one way.

Example of structural ambiguity

The girl hit the boy with the book.

Example of semantic anomaly

*The ball read the newspaper.

Semantic feature (component) analysis

Analysis of features that define categories.

Agent

Entity that performs the action/verb.

Theme/Patient

Entity that is affected by the action or is being described.

Instrument

Used by an entity to perform an action.

Experiencer

Entity that has a feeling, perception, or state.

Location

Where an entity is.

Source

Where an entity moves from.

Goal

Where an entity moves to.

Synonymy

Words with completely or closely overlapping meanings.

Antonymy

Words with opposite or nearly opposite meanings.

Hyponymy

The meaning of one word (more restricted meaning) is included in the meaning of another word (broader meaning).

Homophones

Words that sound the same but are spelled differently.

Homonyms

Words that sound the same and are spelled the same but have completely different meanings.

Polysemy

Words that sound the same and are spelled the same and have different but related meanings.

Metonymy

A closely related word that is used in place of the word that actually matches the intended meaning.

Collocations

Words that are commonly used together.

Acronyms

Abbreviations formed from the initial letters of a series of words.

Puns

Play on words that exploits multiple meanings.