| Caroline Heycock |
Syntactic Theory |
Exam Guide |
1. One way of approaching the syntax of a particular language would be to work on finding an accurate description of collection of utterances in that language (a "corpus"). This has not, typically, been the methodology of syntacticians in the GB/Principles & Parameters tradition. What reasons can be given for not relying exclusively on a corpus, and what alternative methodologies are used?
2. What is meant by "Universal Grammar?" What kind of argument can be given to support the existence of Universal Grammar, and how can it be reconciled with the observed variation between languages?
3. It has sometimes been assumed that there are only two types of syntactic objects: words (lexical categories) and phrases (phrasal categories). What evidence can you give for the existence of an intermediate type?
4. It has been argued that there is a certain amount
of redundancy between the following:
i. X-Bar Theory
ii. subcategorisation frames for each lexical item
iii. specification of the thematic roles assigned by each lexical item
iv. phrase structure rules
That is to say, some of the information is repeated. What kind of redundancies
have been identified, and what proposals have been made for avoiding them?
5. How can the following set of data concerning
wh-movement be accounted for within GB/Principles and Parameters Theory?
If there are any problems (for example, if any judgement cannot be
accounted for), note these also:
i. a. Who did Kim think that Jo said her brother admired?
b. *Who do you despise people who admire?
ii. a. Who did they say that Alex gave the box to?
b. *Who did they ask which box Alex gave to
(Compare: They asked which box Alex gave to Kim)
iii. Who would you like a picture of?
6. How can the following set of data be
analysed within GB/Principles and Parameters Theory? If there are any problems,
(for example, if any judgement cannot be accounted for) note these
also:
i. a. The die seemed to be cast.
b. *The die tried to be cast.
ii. a. It appeared that Kim enjoyed musicals.
b. Kim appeared to enjoy musicals.
c. *It appeared Kim to enjoy musicals.
d. *Kim appeared that enjoyed musicals.
e. *Kim appeared that Kim enjoyed musicals.
7. What syntactic reasons are there for distinguishing between main verbs and auxiliaries in English? Do the same reasons hold in French?
8. Describe the restrictions on the occurrence of each of the following types of noun phrase: anaphors, pronouns, and R-expressions.
| Caroline Heycock |
Syntactic Theory |
Exam Guide |
 |
12th May 2000 |