Syntax is a branch of linguistics that focuses on grammar. According to Tallerman, "‘syntax’ means ‘sentence construction’: how words group together to make phrases and sentences" (1). It means that the study of syntax is to research into the rules and the function about making a phrase, a clause and a sentence with the words order. Syntax is sometimes said ‘grammar’ but it is too broad, in formal, syntax is only one part of the grammar (Tallerman 1).If you want to get more information, click here!
The Term ‘Syntax’
Tallerman says, "the term is also used to mean the study of the syntactic properties of language" (1). Studying syntax includes a constituent: the classification of words, words order, the structure, and the different on languages (Tallerman 1).
This website has a lot of links so help your understanding. Click here!
This website has a lot of links so help your understanding. Click here!
Grammatical Terms
When people study syntax, there are many grammatical terms in the text: Noun (N), Verb (V), Preposition (P), Determiner (D), Noun Phrase (NP), Verb Phrase (VP), Preposition Phrase (PP)…. Such terms are used to analyze the sentence and used in tree diagrams (Sobin 34). In addition, when their contents are explained, such terms are used: relative clauses, subject, nominative, subjunctive, passive….
Generalizing Syntactic Rules
Sentence is formed from NPs and VPs. However, they can be separated in small chunk (Sobin 51).
e.g. S – NP, VP My sister bought a pen→My sister(NP), bought a Pen(VP)
NP – D, N My sister→My(D), sister(N)
VP – V, NP bought a pen→bought(V), a pen(NP)
VP – V, NP bought a pen→bought(V), a pen(NP)
Phrase
Sentences are composed of some phrases. According to All About Linguistics, "There are several different types of the phrase that can be used in a sentence, but the two phrases which must be used in a sentence for it to make sense are a noun phrase and a verb phrase".
- Noun Phrase A noun phrase is composed of a noun. It is usually the person or thing that perform the verb in a sentence. It may also be the person or thing that the verb is being done to in a sentence. A person acting a verb in a sentence is known as a subject (Aitchison 83), for example ‘Tom.’ Sometimes, a determiner is needed in a noun phrase, like ‘the car.’
("All About Linguistics: What is Syntax?")- Verb Phrase On the other hand, a verb phrase is usually made up of one word “but not every sentence has basic verb phrase” (All About Linguistics: What is Syntax?) Sometimes, a verb phrase contains another noun phrase. This is a basic verb phrase.
("All About Linguistics: What is Syntax?")Tree Diagram
The succussive layers of constituents can be shown most clearly on a tree diagram. The source of the name is that its blanches resemble the blanches of an upside-down tree (Aitchison 85). In the tree diagram, a basic sentence type at the top branches downwards in every-increasing complexity.
("All About Linguistics: What is Syntax?")
Constituent Analysis
To analyze sentences, constituent analysis show that a phrase, a paragraph, chunk in the sentence. Aitchison pointed out that "sentences are not simply random words strung together", so researchers should find the chunk in the sentences (83).
e.g. “The duck bit the burglar”
1. Sentence is made of some of words.
The / duck / bit / the / burglar
This sentence consists of 5 words. → 5 components ("Aitchison 83")
2. A linking word can be replaced by other one word without changing the original sentence pattern.
The duck / bit / the burglar.
This sentence consists of 3 chunks (follow to grammatical rules).
Sentence can be separated in D, N, V…but determiner do not have mean itself. In short, it can be said that determiner and noun is linking. For example ‘The duck’ can substitute to ‘Donald’.→ 3 components ("Aitchison 84")
Sentence can be separated in D, N, V…but determiner do not have mean itself. In short, it can be said that determiner and noun is linking. For example ‘The duck’ can substitute to ‘Donald’.→ 3 components ("Aitchison 84")
3. Researcher can find linking words with meaning. To prove these linking, researcher can substitute other words for original words. Substitution is the simple way to identify patterns.
The duck / bit the burglar.
This sentence consists of 2 chunks (follow to meaning). The words are closely connected with others especially verb and an object. In this sentence, 'bit' and 'the burglar' are connected strongly so the part of 'bit the burglar' can substitute to 'slept' without changing sentence pattern.→ 2 components ("Aitchison 84")
This sentence consists of 2 chunks (follow to meaning). The words are closely connected with others especially verb and an object. In this sentence, 'bit' and 'the burglar' are connected strongly so the part of 'bit the burglar' can substitute to 'slept' without changing sentence pattern.→ 2 components ("Aitchison 84")
Syntax is......
Syntax is one of the linguistics about grammar. Studying syntax is to study grammatical rules for example words order, the structures. This is very important to make and understand sentences. Sentence is divided into two main phrases: Noun Phrase and Verb Phrase. This structure can be showed with 'Tree diagram' which is easy to understand how to make sentences. In addition, it is important to study sentences with not only components but also meaning. It is called 'Constituent Analysis'.- How did Tallerman explain about syntax?
- What is grammatical terms and when is it used?
- Sentences are made up of two main phrase. What is that?
- Did you find like a tree diagram in the past? (e.g. family tree)
- In this web page, how many ways to be shown with Constituent Analysis?
- When analyzing sentences, is it important meaning of linking words?
- How do you think which way is easier 'Tree Diagram' or 'Constituent Analysis' ?
Interesting Sources and Books
Looks Like a Rodent, Croons Like a Bird. (The New York Times)
-This article shows to analyze syntax in animal communication.
-This is article to show monkeys using syntax to communicate with others. It is very interesting.
-This book shows English syntax with other languages for example Japanese, Telugu. Moreover playing word order, constituent structure and grammar.
Uttering Trees by Norrin Richards
-This book shows a little complicated Tree Diagrams and compare the structure with other languages like Spanish.
A Theory of Syntax-Minimal Operations and Universal Grammar by Norbert Hornstein
-This book analyze components. It is more complicated like a mathematics 'Progression'.
Key Words
Classification of words: to classify word with rules and meaning.
Relative clauses: Sentences are made by 'who', 'which', 'where' etc.
Nominative: a particular form of a noun in some languages.
Noun phrase: It is phrase mainly made of noun and determiner.
Verb phrase: It is phrase mainly made of verb and noun phrase.
Works Consulted
Aitchison, Jean. Aitchisin’s Linguistic. London:Teach Yourself, 2010. Print.
Kroeger, Paul R. Analyzing Syntax: A Lexical-functional Approach.
Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2004. Print.
Parey, Emma L. The Structure of Language: An Introduction to Grammatical
Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. Print.
Sobin, Nicholas. Syntactic Analysis. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.
Tallerman, Maggie. Understanding Syntax. Ed. London: Arnold, 1998. Print.
Kroeger, Paul R. Analyzing Syntax: A Lexical-functional Approach.
Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2004. Print.
Parey, Emma L. The Structure of Language: An Introduction to Grammatical
Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2010. Print.
Sobin, Nicholas. Syntactic Analysis. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011. Print.
Tallerman, Maggie. Understanding Syntax. Ed. London: Arnold, 1998. Print.
University of Sheffield. "What is Syntax." All about Linguistics. n.d. Web.
13 Jan. 2014.<http://allaboutlinguistics.com/>.
13 Jan. 2014.<http://allaboutlinguistics.com/>.
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