syntax

SYNTAX

                           Sentences are not only sequences of words. There is more sructure than metts the eye. Look for example :

.

·         This villa costs a fortune.

The word s are ordered  by their appereances, or is spoken, by their temporal arrangement. This ordering is linier. It satisfies the following postulates :

·         No words precedes itself. (Irreflexivity)

·          If w precedes  w’ and w’ precedes w’ then w precedes w’. (transitivity)

·          For any two distinet words w and w’ either w precedes w’ or  w’ precedes w. (linearity)

Constituensts     

 We claim that. For example, /a fortune / is a sequence of different catacter than / costs a /. One reason is that it can be replaced by / much / without affecting grammaticality.

·         This villa costs much.

Likewise, instead of / this villa / we can say

                   Context Free Grammars

                         

If DP is the category o which / this villa /bellongs, and if VP is the category to which / costs a fortune/ bellongs, then we are entintlet to substitute any DP for / this villa /, and any VP for / costs a fortune/:

( this villa)                                           ( costs a fortune)

(a car)                                                  (walks)

(it)                                                       (catches the bus)

(tomrrow’s sunshime)                         (sings praise to the lord.)