| Caroline Heycock |
Syntactic Theory |
Exam Guide |
1. Explain the concepts of "principles" and "parameters." Include in your discussion an evaluation of the advantages of thinking of syntactic variation in these terms.
2. Explain the concept of "X-Bar Theory."
Include in your discussion an explanation of how the version of X-Bar Theory
discussed in class rules out each of the following phrase structure rules
(where X'' = XP):
a. N'' --> Det N'
b. S --> N'' V''
c. N' --> N''
3. Consider the data below. How much of the data
should be explained in terms of the subcategorisation of the adjective "happy,"
and how much should be accounted for in other ways? Give reasons for your
answer.
a. She is happy that you are here.
b. She is happy with/at/*of the results.
c. *She is happy with that you are here.
d. *She is happy that to be here.
e. She is happy to be here.
f. *Is happy.
g. She is happy when she is walking in the mountains.
4. 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:
a. Who did you say that he said discovered America?
b. *Who have you never met a woman who admired? (Compare: I have never met
a woman who admired Plato.)
c. *Who did they ask which book you lent to? (Compare: They asked which
book you lent to Kim.)
d. *Who did that discovered America shocked the world?
5. Answer either A. or B.
A. It has been argued that, despite their
apparent similarity, the structure of the two sentences in (a) and (b) is
quite different. What are the empirical differences between the two types
of sentence, and how are they accounted for within GB/Principles and Parameters
Theory.
a. Jay tried to enjoy the play.
b. Jay seemed to enjoy the play.
B. Discuss the differences, and any possible connections, between Case assignment and thematic-role assignment.
6. How is the position of "not"
in the sentences below accounted for within GB/Principles and Parameters
Theory? Discuss briefly whether "never" exhibits the same behaviour.
a. Kay may not have left.
b. *Kay not may have left.
c. *Kay did not may have left.
d. *Kay likes not the ambassador.
e. *Kay not likes the abassador.
f. Kay does not like the ambassador.
7. How can the following set of data 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.
a. *James thought that himself should have been elected.
b. James believed himself to be the most likely candidate.
c. *James believed the committee to have elected himself.
d. *He(i) hoped that they would back James(i) up.
e. *He(i) voted for him(i).
f. He(i) said that he(i) was planning to vote.
| Caroline Heycock |
Syntactic Theory |
Exam Guide |
 |
12th May 2000 |