tree diagram ➝ generative approach. main theory of syntax
dependency: when 2+ elements occur in a syntactic arrangement, some kind of dependency exists
a dependency relation doesn’t have to have the head next to the dependent
there can be a long-distance dependency
three types of dependency, depending on the strength of the bond
Bilateral dependence: the occurrence of each element is dependent on the occurrence of the other
Subject-Verb. The cyclist crashed
Preposition-Object. with the pencil
the head still governs the syntactic properties of the construction (verb, preposition)
Unilateral dependence: the head can occur without any dependents
adjuncts ➝ adjectives, time, manner, place, adverbs
Coordinate dependence: all elements are of equal status, both heads and dependence. shown by ‘and’
Dependency relations are crucial to morphosyntax
dependent-marking: some languages require morphosyntactic coding only on the dependents
head-marking: other languages require morphosyntactic coding only on the heads
zero-marking
mixed marking: some morphology on heads and dependents
A Theory of Dependencies