Transformational-Grammar转换功能语法.ppt

Introduction to Generative and Transformational Grammar Lecturer: Chen Minzhe cmzyzbill@ 1.What is Syntax? Syntax is a branch of linguistics that studies how words are combined to form sentences and the rules that govern the formation of sentences. 2. Sentence Structure A sentence is a structurally independent unit that usually comprises a number of words to form a complete statement, question or command. Normally a sentence consists of at least a subject and its predicate which contains a finite verb or a verb phrase. For example, 2. Lexical Categories Words can be classified into different lexical categories (traditionally called “parts of speech”) according to their meaning, inflection and distribution. Lexical categories can be further divided into two kinds: major lexical categories and minor lexical categories. Major lexical categories: Noun (N): book, boy, love, sheep Verb (V): run, read, play, buy Adjective (A): happy, tall, clear Preposition (P): about, over, on Minor lexical categories: Determiner (Det): the, a, this, those Degree word (Deg): quite, very, more Qualifier (Qual): often, always, almost Auxiliary (Aux): must, can, should, Conjunction (Con): and but, or Interjection (Int): oh, ah, eh 3. Phrase Categories Phrase categories refer to the syntactic units that are built around a certain word. The category of these syntactic units is determined by the word category around which they are built. In English syntactic analysis, four phrasal categories are commonly recognized and discussed, namely, Noun phrase (NP): a tall man, the student Verb phrase (VP): walk with a stick Prepositional phrase (PP): in the park Adjective phrase (AP): quite rude 4. Phrase Structure Rules Native speakers produce and comprehend sentences according to their internalized knowledge of the rules, according to which words and phrases are organized. What is actually internalized in the mind of a native speaker is not a complete list of words and phrases but a