Syntactic relations

Revision as of 12:59, 20 March 2010

In the UNL^arium framework, there are four main syntactic roles:

• HEAD is the nucleus or the source of the whole syntactic structure, which is actually derived (or projected) out of it.
• COMP (i.e., complement) is an internal argument, i.e., a word, phrase or clause which is necessary to the head to complete its meaning (e.g., objects of transitive verbs)
• ADJT (i.e., adjunct) is a word, phrase or clause which modifies the head but which is not syntactically required by it (adjuncts are expected to be extranuclear, i.e., removing an adjunct would leave a grammatically well-formed sentence)
• SPEC (i.e., specifier) is an external argument, i.e., a word, phrase or clause which qualifies (determines) the head

Examples

• HEAD
  • Mary kissed Peter (head of the sentence)
  • The most beautiful girl in town (head of the noun phrase)
• COMP
  • Mary kissed Peter (complement of a direct transitive verb)
  • Mary is interested in Peter (complement of an indirect transitive verb)
  • construction of Babel (complement of a noun)
  • loyal to the queen (complement of an adjective)
  • contrarily to popular belief (complement of an adverb)
  • under the table (complement of a preposition)
  • if John comes (complement of a conjunction)
  • will kiss Peter (complement of an auxiliary verb)
• SPEC
  • Mary kissed Peter (specifier of the verb)
  • the construction (specifier of the noun)
  • very loyal (specifier of the adjective)
  • nearly always (specifier of the adverb)
  • right under (specifier of the preposition)
  • even if (specifier of the conjunction)
• ADJT
  • beautiful table (adjunct to the noun)
  • He loved her desperately (adjunct to the verb)
  • It is beautiful to see (adjunct to the adjective)

Syntax

The syntactic framework of the UNLarium derives from the X-bar theory. For further information, see Syntax.