The xbar theory was first proposed by noam chomsky 1970. Each lexical category x, which may be noun, verb, adjective, or preposition, is the head or basic word of an xp or phrase. X bar theory to ensure that move x is structure preserving. The kikuyu determiner phrase university of nairobi. Adjuncts iterably reduplicate the label of the phrase they modify.
X bar theory captures the insight that all phrases share some essential structural properties. Pdf the ekegusii determiner phrase analysis in the minimalist. Government and binding theory wikibooks, open books for an. Heres a tree diagram that shows us that basic organization. And just like every other head, determiners also project their properties to the phrase and so a plural determiner will head a plural determiner phrase. Xbar theory was first proposed by noam chomsky 1970, building on zellig harriss 1951 ch. The basic schema that i propose for the noun phrase is the layered structure in 25, where sdp stands for str ong determiner phr ase for reasons that will become clear in the ne xt chapter, pdp stands for pr edicative determiner phr ase and kip stands for kind determiner phr ase. What if noun and verb phrases are instantiations of a more general phrase structure.
On the extension of the x bar principles to the functional categories such as inflections, complementisers, and determiners getting generalised having waded through various essays and lecture notes on xbar theory, one cannot avoid noticing the strikingly frequent occurrences of the words universal, general and generalised. Noun phrases are dps if determiners are heads, x theory dictates that noun phrases are. First of all, simply drawing a tree that conforms to xbar theory doesnt guarantee that were going to have a grammatical sentence. Introductions to the theory may be found in various works on generative grammar, including sells 1985 and haegemann 1994 based on chomsky 1981 and chomsky 1986. Specifiers differ from complements and adjuncts because they are nonrecursive, and phrases can only have one specifier.
This will be an introductory book on the influential syntactic theory. The x bar theory was first proposed by noam chomsky 1970. In this paper we will demonstrate that a formalization of its content reveals very little substance in its claims. Optionality with the exception of determiners more on this later, all nonhead materials are both phrasal and optional. In linguistics, xbar theory is a theory of syntactic category formation. Lets flesh it out by filling up the specifier slots of the dp and the np. The notation xp stands for x phrase, and is equivalent to x bar bar, written x. Introductions to the theory may be found in various works on generative grammar, including sells 1985 and. Document resume ed 400 697 fl 024 177 author black, cheryl a. We demonstrated in class the di erence between english and japanese with respect to these parameters.
Abney 1987, following proposals of extending xbar theory to functional categories, extensively argues for the parallel treatment of a noun phrase and a clause. This article is not the place to discuss and explain x bar theory. In chapter 4, we introduced the x schema of phrase structure, according to which lexical items project an elementary tree consisting of a spine of projections and up to two argument positions. Document resume author aboh, enoch olade on the syntax of. In this paper we will demonstrate that a formalization of its content reveals very. Key arguments for the determiner phrase hypothesis. The syntax of determiners in attic greek a theoretical approach. Analysis, phrase structure grammar and x bar syntax theory prof moubtassime mohammed s6 linguistics stream 1. Methodologically,itgoes ag ainst the grain of crosscate gorial generalization which is typical of x bar syntax and of the h p s g frame w ork. In terms of split determiner hypothesis, they are considered two interrelated components of the determiner and must be in local relation. Xbar theory is a component of linguistic theory which attempts to identify syntactic features presumably common to all those human languages that fit in a presupposed 1965 framework.
In fact the glc cannot be limited to dps only, since it is an expression of the fact. English phrases in bracket containers and in trees duration. X bar projections xbar theory provides a schema for phrases headed by lexical and functional categories alike. The dphypothesis is also useful because it makes the x bar theory more consistent and symmetric. The syntax of determiners in attic greek a theoretical. The theory of syntax that were working within this class is called xbar theory. It is a theory about the internal structure of syntactic constituents which was originally intended to place constraints on the power of phrase structure rules.
The general approach to the structure of the noun phrase taken here is that of x x bar theory. Xbar theory makes the simple proposal that every phrase in every sentence in. Adjunct x x complement the ordering of the x bar schema i. Xbar theory maintains that there are certain structures that are. We introduce the key concepts of this theory as needed. The main idea behind xbar theory is to explain the similarity between the rules for each category. Document resume ed 400 697 fl 024 177 author black. We can revise our original np and vp rules to reflect our intermediate n and v nodes. The new testament jenjo bible and introspection were used. This, in turn, implies that all content categories as well as functional categories project.
For other bar connected with formal languages see bar computer science. In the process of providing a semantics for x bar theory, certain modifications to x bar theory are proposed to bring it into closer alignment with that semantics. Just as group theory identifies overlap in the axioms of addition and subtraction, x bar theory explores the similarity between np and vp rules. Xbar theory replaces these separate and variable structures for np, vp, and all the rest, with a single structure.
The study describes the structures and functions of jenjo np and analyses it in x bar convention. The word sick is the noun phrase np which is the complement of the determiner phrase. F e b r u a ry 2 0 0 0 this w ork is a re vision of my 1995 uni v ersity of rochester dissertation referenced as zamparelli 1995, distrib uted as a. Xbar theory is a generative theory of language conceived by noam a. The x bar theory is hypothesized to be part of universal grammar, revealing how children can quickly learn the abstract hierarchical structures associated with phrases. Different parts of this structure are given different names and they act different from one another, as well see. Dec 20, 2003 x bar theory replaces these separate and variable structures for np, vp, and all the rest, with a single structure. Xbar theory also proposes that phrase can have a specifier. Information and translations of x bar theory in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. A specifier is a phrase that is sister to the barlevel and daughter to the phrase level. Xbar theory claims phrases may contain intermediate constituents projected from a head x this system of projected constituency may be common to more than one category. He has been a source of constant encouragement through the. In everyday language, we often replace words and phrases with indexing words like one. The most common job for specifiers is as the subjects of sentences, so well look at those in another unit.
At another point, the article starts to discuss the notions of deep and surface structure. I x bar theory forms the basis of syntactic structure in the transformational tradition. Im currently working on an introductory guide to x bar theory for a group of students, and was wondering whether to classify a specific part as a determiner phrase or an adverb phrase. X,y adjunct rule xp ypx0 xzp notice that xp and x0 get the category from x. An x phrase consists of an optional specifier and an xbar, in any order. The x in xbar theory is a variable over categories. Principles and parameters x bar theory x bar theory i x bar theory was developed in the 1970s to design phrase structures in a more theoretically sound way. In our analysis of the kikuyu determiner phrase, we shall aim at meeting the following objectives. So if d is a distinct head, then there should be no need for x bar. We state and discuss six conditions that encapsulate the claims of x bar theory. Further, it is proposed that the surface noun phrase determiner number projection found in. Introduction this course is a study of ica, which is a method of sentence analysis first founded by leonard bloomfield and developed further by rulon wells.
In this chapter, we extend the x schema to syntactic categories other than v, i, or c, including noun see nouns for some basic information, determiner, adjective, and preposition. In x bar theory in linguistics, specifiers, head words, complements and adjuncts together form phrases. Thus, the x may become an n for noun, a v for verb, an a for adjective, or a p for preposition. Xbartheory adel rahimi sharif university oftechnology fall 2016 2. An introduction and motivation of xbar theory in syntax.
Consider the sentence i bought this big book of poems with the red cover. Thats why many linguists reject the representation in 1, where the det is a specifier of an np. The determiner and its number projection host the specificity marker and the number marker respectively. We can also say that bar and phrase level constituents are projections of the head. Moreover, x bar requires that all nonhead materials be phrasal carnie, 20. X bar theory is a generative theory of language conceived by noam a. Extending xbar theory dps, tps, and cps andrew carnie, 2006. It is the claim that d is an operator that leads to x bar. Essentially we can layer xps inside xps by labelling the top one xp and then each one after than x xbar. Xbar theory is a theory of syntactic category formation. Yp if we can treat phrase structure universally in terms of this general projection schema, then we may further assume that the child learning a language need not construct this schema as part of its grammar. Xbar theory elevates this to a principle of phrase.
The traditional view of x bar doesnt make much sense on its own. It is an attempt to generalize over the rules we have. The sentence in question is the interrogative sentence where are my. On these grounds, the representation in 2 is theoretically more acceptable. When we talk of xp, we mean to be describing any kind of phrase vp, np, adjp, advp, pp, tp, cp.
We state and discuss six conditions that encapsulate the claims of xbar theory. X bar theory is widely regarded as a substantive theory of phrase structure properties in natural languages. Another related issue within the scope of the present study is the treatment of double object. So if the head is a noun, then our phrase is a noun phrase, abbreviated np. X bar theory captures an important grammatical generalization. A determiner, also called determinative abbreviated det, is a word, phrase, or affix that occurs together with a noun or noun phrase and serves to express the reference of that noun or noun phrase. A complement or a head, for instance, can belong to an y kind of cat.
Determiner phrase roberto zamparelli univer sity of roc hester r e v i s i o n. X bar theory is part of chomskian linguistics that is used to flesh out our phrase structure rules. Xbar theory is part of chomskian linguistics that is used to flesh out our phrase structure rules. The determiner phrase suggested by abney has an x bar structure like any other phrase. Using the grammar tool in x bar ch5, build two distinct structures for the noun phrase in 1, and indicate which structure goes with which interpretation in 2. The phrase structure component of our grammar of english written. The letter x is used to signify an arbitrary lexical category. Syntax xbar theory specifiers, adjuncts, and complements. The theory of syntax that were working within this class is called x bar theory. This paper is a step towards providing such a semantics.
According to the x bar theory every head must project into a phrase. These grammar theories are either based on x bar theory or descend from it, which requires that every noun has a corresponding determiner or specifier. F e b r u a ry 2 0 0 0 this w ork is a re vision of my 1995 uni v ersity of rochester dissertation referenced as zamparelli 1995, distrib uted as a cogsci technical report in 1996, intended for web distrib ution. Dec 12, 2019 x bar theory is a theory of syntactic category formation. Xbar theory is widely regarded as a substantive theory of phrase structure properties in natural languages. It postulates that all human languages share certain structural similarities, including the same underlying syntactic structure, which is known as the x bar. Give paraphrases for the two interpretations available for 3, and use the grammar tool to build the structures corresponding to them, indicating which structures goes with. The hierarchical structure of sentences is constructed only of phrases. Xbar theory structurally, this looks like this of course, there can be any number of x. The notation xp stands for x phrase, and is at the equivalent level of xbarbar x with a double overbar, written x. The default grammar is based in a modified version of the x bar approach, as indicated below. Each xp can only have one actual xp up the top, and one head x, but as many x s as necessary. Xbar theory makes the claim that every single phrase in every single sentence in the mental grammar of every single human language, has the same core organization.
Essentially we can layer xps inside xps by labelling the top one xp and then each one after than x x bar. In the xbar rules in 1, youll note that the only obligatory element is the head. For instance, at one point the article begins to explain x bar theory. Extending xbar theory to functional categories these rules do not fit xbar theory. Extending x bar theory to functional categories to remedy this situation, we will look at determiners and specifiers and propose a new category that fits x bar theory. Determiner phrase internal concord and feature checking theory and. Xbar theory motivating intermediate projections ling 322 read syntax, ch. Apr 29, 2017 i introduce xbar theory, specifiers, adjuncts, and complements, as well as many example phrases to show you how the structures are built. Specifier linguistics wikimili, the free encyclopedia. X bar theory makes the claim that every single phrase in every single sentence in the mental grammar of every single human language, has the same core organization. Government and binding theorydp hypothesis wikibooks. I do some more examples in x bar theory, showing adjuncts, complements, and specifiers.
It is a phrasal position, the nature of the phrase depends on what it is the specifier of. I xbar theory forms the basis of syntactic structure in the transformational tradition. The chapter raises these issues and emphasizes the need for the standardization of the x bar theory. According to the xbar theory every head must project into a phrase. On the extension of the x bar principles to the functional categories such as inflections, complementisers, and determiners getting generalised having waded through various essays and lecture notes on x bar theory, one cannot avoid noticing the strikingly frequent occurrences of the words universal, general and generalised. To account for this, syntacticians consider the head of the determiner phrase to be an unpronounced null determiner. A phrase xp may contain a specifier and an intermediate category x bar that encompasses the head x and possibly a complement. Xbar theory captures the insight that all phrases share some essential structural properties. A determiner does not seem to be a phrase, thus the representation in 1 causes a trouble. First of all, x bar theory dictates that specifier positions can be occupied by only phrasal elements, as bernstein 2003 points out. Principles and parameters xbar theory xbar theory i xbar theory was developed in the 1970s to design phrase structures in a more theoretically sound way.
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