Syntax

Course Overview and Foundations

• Introduction to the theory of language

  • Focus on Bar Theory

• Critical questions in language study:

  • Nature of language

  • Complexity of language and ability to lie (SC Prevarication)

  • Nature vs. Nurture in language learning

Behaviorism

• Behaviorist approach by B.F. Skinner

  • Human beings viewed as "Tabula Rasa" (blank slate)

  • Emphasis on social environment in language acquisition

• Key components of Behaviorism:

  1. Stimulus: Environmental triggers for language learning

  2. Response: Reactions of children to stimuli

  3. Reinforcement: Feedback from caregivers (positive/negative)

• Behaviorism suggests language is influenced by nurture.

Chomsky's Linguistic Revolution

• Noam Chomsky's critique of Skinner

  • Published a review of Skinner's "Verbal Behavior"

• Key concepts introduced by Chomsky:

  • Generative Grammar: Framework for understanding language structure

  • Language as an innate ability, supported by Generative Grammar

Nativism

• Nativist argument:

  • Children are born with an innate capacity for language (Language Acquisition Device - LAD)

  • LAD is subject to maturation; critical period for language acquisition

  • Comparison between language acquisition and physiological development (e.g., human arms)

• Children naturally acquire language despite "impoverished data" available in their environment.

Universal Grammar (UG)

• Universal characteristics shared among all languages

  • Theory that all languages stem from a common set of grammatical principles

• Innate Language Faculty: Shared human ability to acquire language

• Examples:

  • Children’s language patterns are similar worldwide, indicating underlying structures.

Structure of Language

• Syntax: Study of sentence structures and constituents

  • Importance of syntactic competence: Native speakers’ intuitive understanding of grammar

  • Intuition about grammatical well-formedness (well-formed vs. ill-formed sentences)

Constituents and Syntactic Categories

• Definitions:

  • A constituent is a word/group of words that function as a single unit in a sentence.

• Types of syntactic categories:

  • Word-level categories (verbs, nouns, etc.)

  • Phrase-level categories (noun phrases, verb phrases)

• Evidence for categories:

  • Phonological arguments: Word stress patterns indicate category.

  • Semantic arguments: Meaning can provide insight into category (e.g., action vs. entity).

Well-Formedness and Phrase Structure

• Understanding constructions and phrases through Transformational Grammar:

  • Well-formed: Grammatically correct sentences

  • Ill-formed: Sentences with incorrect structure

• X-bar Theory: Framework outlining hierarchical structure of phrases

  • Illustrates various projections:

    • Maximal Projection (XP)

    • Intermediate Projections (X')

Movement and Constituents

• Types of syntactic movements:

  • Transitive verbs often require a direct object to ensure grammaticality.

  • Preposing: Movement of a phrase to the front for emphasis, illustrating constituency.

  • C-command: A syntactic relation where one node governs another, crucial for understanding pronoun reference.

Thematic Roles and Arguments

• Thematic roles assigned to noun phrases (NPs) - Agent, Patient, etc.

  • Movement to passive forms preserves thematic roles through abstract case assignments.

  • Example: Active vs. Passive voice structures.

Case Theory and Inflectional Phrases

• Assigning case roles in sentences:

  • Nominative Case: Subject role in a sentence

  • Accusative Case: Object role

  • Inflectional phrases, comprising functional categories like InFL, are central to clause structure.

Wh-Movement

• Mechanism allowing wh-words to move for interrogative constructions:

  • Importance of knowing when and how wh- elements transition to the front of sentences.

  • Wh- features: Establishing relations within CP (Complementizer Phrase).

Conclusion

• The study of grammar reveals deeper insights into human cognition and language proficiency.

• Understanding these principles fosters appreciation for the complexity and innate capacity for language.