English syntax and word grammar theory
Making some fundamental innovations in Word Grammar theory, the thesis explores the nature of syntax (focusing on English) in the areas of (I) relationships between word order and surface constituency, and grammatical relations, (II) the syntax-morphology interface. (I) Dependency and surface phrase structure ('skeletal trees') get defined; mediating between them is s-dependency, essentially a relation of linear precedence but also crucially involved in (among much else) determining extractability and landing sites for extraction, and defining subordination (demonstrated on prepositional passives). A range of constructions where phrases are in some sense 'many-headed' are examined. A relation 'Proxy' is motivated for: relative and interrogative pronouns; that clauses; extraposition; cognate objects. WG's traditional constituency-based analysis of coordination is refined but ultimately rejected and instead a highly detailed dependency-based analysis is provided for all/most varieties: standard, complex, gapping, appended, asyndetic. Partially coordination-like constructions studied include: pied piping; other conjunctions than AND/BUT/OR (e.g. than, as, like, instead of, so, though, nor); 'subjunctions' (e.g.
Rosta, Andrew
Linguistics
English syntax and word grammar theory. Making some fundamental innovations in Word Grammar theory, the thesis explores the nature of syntax (focusing on English) in the areas of (I) relationships between word order and surface constituency, and grammatical relations, (II) the syntax-morphology interface. (I) Dependency and surface phrase structure ('skeletal trees') get defined; mediating between them is s-dependency, essentially a relation of linear precedence but also crucially involved in (among much else) determining extractability and landing sites for extraction, and defining subordination (demonstrated on prepositional passives). A range of constructions where phrases are in some sense 'many-headed' are examined. A relation 'Proxy' is motivated for: relative and interrogative pronouns; that clauses; extraposition; cognate objects. WG's traditional constituency-based analysis of coordination is refined but ultimately rejected and instead a highly detailed dependency-based analysis is provided for all/most varieties: standard, complex, gapping, appended, asyndetic. Partially coordination-like constructions studied include: pied piping; other conjunctions than AND/BUT/OR (e.g. than, as, like, instead of, so, though, nor); 'subjunctions' (e.g.
english syntax word_grammar theory making fundamental innovation word_grammar theory explore_nature syntax focus english area relationships word_order surface constituency grammatical_relation syntax morphology interface dependency surface phrase_structure skeletal tree get define mediate dependency essentially relation linear precedence also crucially involve among much else determine land site extraction define subordination demonstrated prepositional passive range construction phrase sense many headed examine relation proxy motivate relative interrogative pronoun clause cognate object traditional constituency based_analysis coordination refine ultimately reject instead highly detailed dependency_based analysis provide all variety standard complex append partially coordination like construction study include conjunction and like instead though