See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/341219875

Syntax-Phrase Structure& Transformational Rules, Ambiguity, NP &

WH Movement

Presentation · May 2020

CITATIONS READS

0 4,275

1 author:

Mohammad Atawi Saraireh

Yarmouk University
28 PUBLICATIONS   21 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

English-Arabic Translation View project

Linguistics: English, Arabic, Syntax, phonology, teaching View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Mohammad Atawi Saraireh on 07 May 2020.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

 Syntax:
phrase structure &
transformational rules,
ambiguity, np & wh movement
mohammad Atawi Saraireh
translation department
Yarmouk university
Jordan
 Syntax is the study
of sentence structure
Let us look at this
sentence:
This boy will speak very slowly to
that girl
Could it be:
Thi sboywi llspeakv erysl
wolyt oth atgirl
This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
 NP NP

DET N AX V DEG ADV P DET N

This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
 NP ADVP NP

DET N AX V DEG ADV P DET N

This boy will speak very slowly to that girl
 PP

NP ADVP NP

DET N AX V DEG ADV P DET N

This boy will speak very slowly to that girl

 S
VP

PP

NP ADVP NP

DET N AUX V DEG ADV P DET N

This boy will speak very slowly to that girl

 S

VP
NP AUX

This boy will speak very slowly to that girl

Very old men and women
 NP

NP NP
AP

DEG A N Conj N

very old men and women

 NP

NP NP
AP CONJ

DEG A N N

very old men and women

Ambiguous?
• I scratched the dog with a stick

• Does the PP modify “scratch” or “dog”?

• In other words, does function as an ADVERB or as an ADJECTIVE?
Do I mean this?
• I scratched (the dog with a stick)

Nice doggie!
Or do I mean this?
• I scratched (the dog) with a stick.

scratch

scratch
The two meanings are a result of:
HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE
Sentences are more than just ordered sequences of words.
They have internal hierarchical structure as well.
Instrument
Identifier,
With what
Which dog

scratched the dog with a stick scratched the dog with a stick

dog has stick I have stick

PARAPHRASE & AMBIGUITY
Paraphrase Ambiguity
When several surface One surface structure
structures relate to relating to several
one deep structure. deep structures.
1. John bought the book  Flying planes can be
from Mary. dangerous.
2. Mary sold the book to 1. To fly planes can be
John. dangerous
3. The book was sold to 2. Planes which fly can be
John by Mary. dangerous.
(The same basic meaning) (Different meanings)
PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES
S S NP, VP

VP

NP

NP
V
DET
N

DET N

the boy broke the window

PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES
S S NP, VP

VP

NP DET, N
NP
V
DET
N

DET N

the boy broke the window

PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES
S S NP, VP

VP
VP V, NP

NP DET, N

NP
V
DET
N

DET N

the boy broke the window

PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES
S S NP, VP

VP
VP V, NP
NP NP DET, N

NP
NP DET, N
V
DET
N

DET N

the boy broke the window

PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES
THE BOY BROKE THE WINDOW
S NP, VP [NP = the boy, VP=broke the window]
VP V, NP [V – broke, NP= the window]
NP DET, N [DET=the, N = boy]
NP DET, N [DET=the, N= window]
PHRASE STRUCTURE RULES
THE BOY PUT THE BOOK ON THIS TABLE
S NP1, VP [NP1=the boy, VP=put the book on this table]
VP V, NP2, PP [V=put, NP2=the book, PP=on this table]
NP1 DET, N [DET=the, N= boy]
NP2 DET, N [DET = the, N = book]
PP P, NP3 [P= on, NP = this table]
NP3 DET, N [DET = this, N = table]
TRANSFORMATIONAL
GRAMMAR
NP & WH MOVEMENT
TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAMMAR
MODEL OF LANGUAGE
Phrase structure

Lexical component
Deep structure

Transformations

Surface structure
Morphophonemic/phonological rules

Sentence
TRANSFORMATIONAL
GRAMMAR MODEL OF
LANGUAGE
NP-MOVEMENT: THE GENERAL STURCTURE OF
THE SENTNECE: ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Ṥ1
Comp1 S1
AUX VP1
NP1
e V NP2 PP
DET N
DET NP P NP3
NP
SUBJECT
POSITION
OBJECT OF
OBJECT by PEPOSITION
POSITION POSITION
ACTIVE STRUCTURE OF:
THE ENEMY DESTROYED THE CITY
Ṥ1
Comp S1
AUX VP1 (Active Verb)
NP1
e V NP2 PP
DET N

destroyed
DET NP P NP3
the enemy
the city by e
ACTIVE STRUCTURE OF:
THE ENEMY DESTROYED THE CITY
Ṥ1
Comp S1
AUX VP1 (Active Verb)
NP1
e V NP2 PP
DET N

destroyed
DET NP P NP3
the enemy
the city by e
THE PASSIVE STURCTUE:
THE CITY WAS DESTROYED BY THE ENEMY
Ṥ Step 1: (Move NP2 to the empty NP1 position)
Comp S
NP1 AUX VP (Passive Verb)

e e was V NP2 PP

DET N P NP3
destroyed
the city by DET NP

the enemy
THE PASSIVE STURCTUE:
THE CITY WAS DESTROYED BY THE ENEMY
Ṥ Step 2: (Move NP2 to the empty NP1 position)
Comp S
VP (Passive Verb)
AUX
e NP1 was V NP2 PP

DET N P NP3

the city destroyed e by DET NP

the enemy
WH-Movement: DIRECT AND INDIRECT
QUESTION FORMATION (General ST)
Ṥ1 S1
(Movement of WH to e COMP position)
VP1
COMP1 NP1 AUX1 NP2 Ṥ2
V1 S2
COMP2 VP2
NP3 AUX2
+ WH -WH V2 NP4

e1 e2
(Direct Q) (Indirect Q)
WH-Movement:
INDIRECT QUESTION FORMATION
Ṥ1 S1 (- WH = indirect question)
VP1 (Replace material with a WH word)
COMP1 NP1 NP2 Ṥ2
AUX1 V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
know NP3 AUX2
V2 NP4
+ WH I -WH PRO will
e do PRO
e he
(I know he will do something) something
WH-Movement:
INDIRECT QUESTION FORMATION
Ṥ1 S1 (- WH = indirect question)
VP1 (Replace material with a WH word)
COMP1 NP1 NP2 Ṥ2
AUX1 V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
know NP3 AUX2
V2 NP4
+ WH I -WH PRO will
e do PRO
e he
(I know he will do what) what
WH-Movement:
INDIRECT QUESTION FORMATION
Ṥ1 S1 (- WH = indirect question)
VP1 (Replace material with a WH word)
COMP1 NP1 NP2 Ṥ2
AUX1 V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
know NP3 AUX2
V2 NP4
+ WH I -WH PRO will
what do PRO
e he
(I know what he will do) e
WH-Movement:
DIRECT QUESTION
Ṥ1 (+ FORMATION
WH + direct question) (1)
S1 (Replace NP with a proper WH word)
VP1
COMP1 NP1AUX1 NP2 Ṥ2
V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
knew NP3 AUX2
+ WH - WH V2 NP4
e1 you PRO will
bring PRO
e2 he
(You knew he will bring something) something
WH-Movement:
DIRECT QUESTION
Ṥ1 FORMATION
(Something (2)
becomes WHAT)
S1
VP1
COMP1 NP1AUX1 NP2 Ṥ2
V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
knew NP3 AUX2
+ WH - WH V2 NP4
e1 you PRO will
bring PRO
e2 he
(You knew he will bring what) what
WH-Movement:
DIRECT QUESTION
Ṥ1 FORMATION
(Move the WH word to e (3)
of Ṥ1)
S1
VP1
COMP1 NP1AUX1 Ṥ2
NP2
V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
knew NP3 AUX2
+ WH - WH V2 NP4
What you PRO will
bring PRO
e2 he
(what you knew he will bring e) e3
 WH-Movement:
DIRECT QUESTION
Ṥ1 FORMATION (4)
(+ WH = direct question)
S1 (Subject AUX inversion)
VP1
COMP1 AUX1NP1 NP2 NP2 Ṥ2
V1 S2
PRO COMP2 VP2
know NP3 AUX2
+ WH - WH V2 NP4
What did you PRO will
bring PRO
e2 he
e
(What did you know he will bring?)
View publication stats