Distribution

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In English, for instance, articles are always premodifiers. Therefore, distribution of articles must not be informed in the dictionary, but stated through a rule in the grammar. The same applies to determiners (such as "this") and ordinary adjectives (such as "beautiful"), whose distribution may be assumed by default: adjectives and determiners normally precede their modified. In that sense, distribution is to be associated to dictionary entries in the following cases:
 
In English, for instance, articles are always premodifiers. Therefore, distribution of articles must not be informed in the dictionary, but stated through a rule in the grammar. The same applies to determiners (such as "this") and ordinary adjectives (such as "beautiful"), whose distribution may be assumed by default: adjectives and determiners normally precede their modified. In that sense, distribution is to be associated to dictionary entries in the following cases:
 
*Exceptions to the general rule, such as in some free order adjectives:
 
*Exceptions to the general rule, such as in some free order adjectives:
−
**"it is the only solution possible" or "it is the only possible solution"
+
**"it is the only solution '''possible'''" or "it is the only '''possible''' solution"
 
*Categories with irregular distribution, such as adverbs:
 
*Categories with irregular distribution, such as adverbs:
−
**Usually I get up early.
+
**'''Usually''' I get up early.
−
**I often get headaches.
+
**I '''often''' get headaches.
−
**She speaks English well.
+
**She speaks English '''well'''.
  
 
=== Representing distribution in the dictionary ===
 
=== Representing distribution in the dictionary ===
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{{#tree:id=DIS|openlevels=0|root=Distribution (DIS)|
 
{{#tree:id=DIS|openlevels=0|root=Distribution (DIS)|
−
*order (PSN)
+
*front (FRT): at the beginning of the clause
−
**front (FRT): at the beginning of the clause
+
*before (BEF or <<): at the left side, before a blank space
−
**premodifier (BEF): coming before the modified
+
*after (AFT or >>): at the right side, after a blank space
−
**postmodifier (AFT): coming after the modified
+
*immediately before (IBEF or <): at the left side, without any blank space
−
**middle position (MID): coming in the middle of the modified
+
*immediately after (IAFT or >): at the right side, without any blank space
−
**free (FRE): premodifier of postmodifier
+
*middle (MID): coming in the middle
−
**end (END): at the end of the clause
+
*free (FRE): coming either before or after
−
*adjacency (PXM)
+
*end (END): at the end of the clause
−
**immediate (IMM): right after or right before
+
−
**near (NEA):
+
−
**distant (FAR):
+
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
==== Examples ====
 
==== Examples ====
−
*Order
+
*very = BEF
−
**very = BEF - In English, the intensifier "very" is a premodifier: ''He is very rich'' (<strike>''He is rich very''</strike>)
+
**In English, the intensifier "very" is a premodifier: ''He is very rich'' (<strike>''He is rich very''</strike>)
−
**well = AFT - In English, the adverb of manner "well" is a postmodifier: ''He speaks well'' (<strike>''He well speaks''</strike>)
+
*well = AFT
−
**yesterday = FRE - In English, the adverb of time "yesterday" may come either before or after the modified: ''Now I go'' or ''I go now''.
+
**In English, the adverb of manner "well" is a postmodifier: ''He speaks well'' (<strike>''He well speaks''</strike>)
−
*Adjacency
+
*yesterday = FRE
−
**the = FAR (In English, the article "the" has no precedence over other modifiers: ''the small round black leather handbag'' (<strike>''small the round black leather handbag''</strike>).
+
**In English, the adverb of time "yesterday" may come either before or after the modified: ''Now I go'' or ''I go now''.
−
**after (in "look after") = IMM (In English, the preposition "after" must come right after the base form "come" in order to form the compound "look after": ''We look after them'' (<strike>''We look them after''</strike>)
+
−
**down (in "put down") = NEA (In English, the adverb "down" must come right after the base form "put" in order to form the compound "put down", except for the complement: ''Put down that'' (<strike>''Put down it''</strike>)
+
  
 
==== Observations ====
 
==== Observations ====
 
;Middle position is used only for words to be inserted inside others (i.e., between the prefix and the root, or the root and the suffix).
 
;Middle position is used only for words to be inserted inside others (i.e., between the prefix and the root, or the root and the suffix).
−
::Adverbs coming between auxiliaries and verbs must be defined as premodifiers.
+
:Adverbs coming between auxiliaries and verbs must be defined as premodifiers.
−
;Order and adjacency may be combined to express specific distributions:
+
 
−
:BEF,IMM means that the word occurs right before the modified (as with English intensifiers)
+
  
 
=== Representing distribution in the grammar ===
 
=== Representing distribution in the grammar ===
 
In the grammar, distribution is defined through [[S-rule]]s in the following format:
 
In the grammar, distribution is defined through [[S-rule]]s in the following format:
  
−
  <SYNTACTIC ROLE>(<ORDER>,<ADJACENCY>);
+
  <SYNTACTIC ROLE>(<DISTRIBUTION>);
  
 
Where:<br />
 
Where:<br />
 
*<SYNTACTIC ROLE> is the [[Syntax#Syntactic_Roles|syntactic role]] (VA, VC, VS, VH, etc) of the constituent in relation to the head; and
 
*<SYNTACTIC ROLE> is the [[Syntax#Syntactic_Roles|syntactic role]] (VA, VC, VS, VH, etc) of the constituent in relation to the head; and
−
*<ORDER> is the position of the constituent in relation to the head. It may assume one of the following values:
+
*<DISTRIBUTION> is the position of the constituent in relation to the head. It may assume one of the distribution values indicated above ("FNT","BEF",">>",etc).
−
**'''FNT''' (in the beginning of the sentence)
+
−
**'''END''' (in the end of the sentence)
+
−
**'''BEF''' or '''<<'''  (to the left of the head and before a blank space)
+
−
**'''AFT''' or '''>>'''  (to the right of the head and after a blank space)
+
−
**'''>'''  (immediately to the right of the head, i.e., without any blank space)
+
−
**'''<'''  (immediately to the left of the head, i.e., without any blank space)
+
−
*<ADJACENCY> is the precedence of the constituent in relation to other constituents of the same phrase. It may assume one of the following values:
+
−
**'''IMM''' (immediately: right after or right before the head)
+
−
**'''NEA''' (near: precedence over other constituents except IMM)
+
−
**'''FAR''' (distant: no precedence over other constituents)
+
  
 
==== Examples ====
 
==== Examples ====
−
;VS(<<,IMM);
+
;VS(<<);
−
:the specifier must be generated to the left of the verb before a blank space with precedence over any other constituent
+
:the specifier must be generated to the left of the verb
−
;VC(>>,FAR);
+
;VC(>>);
−
:the complement must be generated to the right of the verb after a blank space without any precedence over other constituents
+
:the complement must be generated to the right of the verb
  
 
==== Observations ====
 
==== Observations ====
−
;Order and adjacency may be represented in different rules:
 
−
:VS(<<); (the specifier must be generated to the left of the verb before a blank space)
 
−
:VS(IMM); (the specifier must be generated with precedence over any other constituent)
 
 
;Complex distribution
 
;Complex distribution
 
:A single distribution rule may contain several distribution operations:
 
:A single distribution rule may contain several distribution operations:
−
:*VS(<<)VS(IMM); (the same as "VS(<<,IMM);")
 
 
:*VS(<<)VC(>>); (the specifier will be generated to the left and the complement to the right of the head)
 
:*VS(<<)VC(>>); (the specifier will be generated to the left and the complement to the right of the head)
−
:*VS(FAR)VC(FAR); (both the specifier and the complement of the verb have no precedence over other constituents)
 
 
;Conditional distribution
 
;Conditional distribution
 
:Conditional distribution may be stated by defining the left side of the s-rule and coindexing it to the right side:
 
:Conditional distribution may be stated by defining the left side of the s-rule and coindexing it to the right side:
 
:*VC(>>); (unconditional distribution: the complement will be always generated to the right of the verb);
 
:*VC(>>); (unconditional distribution: the complement will be always generated to the right of the verb);
 
:*VC(PPR):=VC(<<); (conditional distribution: the complement will be generated to the left of the verb if a personal pronoun (PPR);
 
:*VC(PPR):=VC(<<); (conditional distribution: the complement will be generated to the left of the verb if a personal pronoun (PPR);
−
;Adjacency
 
−
:Adjacency must be informed when two constituents are to be generated in the same direction (otherwise, the system will simply follow the order of application of rules defined in the grammar)
 
−
:*VC(>>)VA(>>,FAR); (or "VC(>>)VA(>>)VA(FAR);", i.e., the complement comes nearer the head than the adjunct)
 
−
:Adjacency states a gradient of proximity and is assigned only to the marked constituents
 
−
:*VC has precedence over VA = VA(N
 
−
:*VC(>>,NEA)VA(>>); or VC(>>)VA(>>,FAR); but there's no need for <strike>VC(>>,IMM)VA(>>,FAR);</strike>
 
−
:*VS(>>,IMM)VC(>>,NEA)VA(>>); or VS(>>,IMM)VC(>>)VA(>>,FAR); but there's no need for <strike>VS(>>,IMM)VC(>>,NEA)VA(>>,FAR);</strike>
 
−
:Adjacency is limited to three values (IMM, NEA, FAR) because of the binary nature of branching in the [[Syntax|X-bar approach]]. More complex structures should be reorganized as intermediary projections and only then related one to another. See [[projection]] for further information.
 
 
;Reordering
 
;Reordering
 
:Reordering can be done in three different ways:
 
:Reordering can be done in three different ways:

Revision as of 14:59, 24 March 2010

Distribution or precedence refers to the study of the order of the syntactic constituents of a language.

Contents

Natural Language

In the UNLarium framework, the distribution is informed in the grammar, if general, or in the dictionary, in case of exceptions or categories that do not follow a regular pattern (such as English adverbs).

In English, for instance, articles are always premodifiers. Therefore, distribution of articles must not be informed in the dictionary, but stated through a rule in the grammar. The same applies to determiners (such as "this") and ordinary adjectives (such as "beautiful"), whose distribution may be assumed by default: adjectives and determiners normally precede their modified. In that sense, distribution is to be associated to dictionary entries in the following cases:

  • Exceptions to the general rule, such as in some free order adjectives:
    • "it is the only solution possible" or "it is the only possible solution"
  • Categories with irregular distribution, such as adverbs:
    • Usually I get up early.
    • I often get headaches.
    • She speaks English well.

Representing distribution in the dictionary

In the dictionary, distribution is informed by assigning the following features to the base form and its constituents (in case of compounds):

Examples

  • very = BEF
    • In English, the intensifier "very" is a premodifier: He is very rich (He is rich very)
  • well = AFT
    • In English, the adverb of manner "well" is a postmodifier: He speaks well (He well speaks)
  • yesterday = FRE
    • In English, the adverb of time "yesterday" may come either before or after the modified: Now I go or I go now.

Observations

Middle position is used only for words to be inserted inside others (i.e., between the prefix and the root, or the root and the suffix).
Adverbs coming between auxiliaries and verbs must be defined as premodifiers.


Representing distribution in the grammar

In the grammar, distribution is defined through S-rules in the following format: 

<SYNTACTIC ROLE>(<DISTRIBUTION>);

Where:

  • <SYNTACTIC ROLE> is the syntactic role (VA, VC, VS, VH, etc) of the constituent in relation to the head; and
  • <DISTRIBUTION> is the position of the constituent in relation to the head. It may assume one of the distribution values indicated above ("FNT","BEF",">>",etc).

Examples

VS(<<);
the specifier must be generated to the left of the verb
VC(>>);
the complement must be generated to the right of the verb

Observations

Complex distribution
A single distribution rule may contain several distribution operations:
  • VS(<<)VC(>>); (the specifier will be generated to the left and the complement to the right of the head)
Conditional distribution
Conditional distribution may be stated by defining the left side of the s-rule and coindexing it to the right side:
  • VC(>>); (unconditional distribution: the complement will be always generated to the right of the verb);
  • VC(PPR):=VC(<<); (conditional distribution: the complement will be generated to the left of the verb if a personal pronoun (PPR);
Reordering
Reordering can be done in three different ways:
  • By Ph-rules, if the process involves neighbour constituents and affects only the surface structure of the phrase;
  • By attribute change (i.e., deleting and adding distribution features), such as in "VC(->>,<<);" (i.e.,delete the "after" attribute and add the "before" attribute), in case of neighbour constituents or neighbour projections
  • By movement, in case of more complex inversions and extraction of constituents
The symbol ^ is used for negation and to control infinite recursion
  • VC(^>>):=VC(>>); (assign the "after" attribute to the complement of the verb if it does not have it yet)

UNL

Word order is not informed in UNL.

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