Another look at PSRs:Intermediate Structure

Starting X-bar theory

Flat Structure

NP(D) (AP+) N (PP+)

the blue cover

NP

D AP N PP PPthe book

A P NP P NPbig of with

Npoems

Flat Structure I bought the big [book of poems] with the red cover not the

small [one] with the blue cover.

the blue cover

NP

D AP N PP PPthe book

A P NP P NPbig of with

Npoems

Flat Structure I bought the big [book of poems with the blue cover] not

the small [one].

the blue cover

NP

D AP N PP PPthe book

A P NP P NPbig of with

Npoems

Flat Structure I bought this [big book of poems with the red cover] not

that [one].

the blue cover

NP

D AP N PP PPthis book

A P NP P NPbig of with

Npoems

N’ Structure

NP

Dthe

N’

N PPbook

of poems

with the blue cover

PP

N’AP

big

N’

N’ rules

NP (D) N’ N’ (AP) N’ or N’ (PP) N’ N (PP)

An iterative (self-recursive) rule: can apply as many times as needed

One-Replacement

Replace an N’ node with [one]

not N, not NP

One replacement

NP

Dthat

N’

N PPbook

of poems

with the blue cover

PP

N’AP

big

N’

I want that big book of poems with the blue cover not ...

This [one]

The small [one]

the small [one] with the red cover

*[one].

*the small [one] of essays with the blue cover

Flat Structure in VPs

VP (AP+) V (NP) (AP+) (PP+)

VP

AP V NP AP PPsings

A N A P NPoften opera loudly at

Nchurch

John often sings opera loudly at church and Mary [does so too].

VP

AP V NP AP PPsings

A N A P NPoften opera loudly at

Nchurch

John often sings opera loudly at church and Mary frequently [does so too].

A N A P NP

VP

AP V NP AP PPsings

often opera loudly at

Nchurch

John often sings opera loudly at church but Mary rarely [does so] in the library.

VP

AP V NP AP PPsings

A N A P NPoften opera loudly at

Nchurch

John often sings opera loudly at church but Mary rarely [does so] quietly in the library.

VP

AP V NP AP PPsings

A N A P NPoften opera loudly at

Nchurch

V’ StructureVP

V’

AP V’

V’ PP

V’ AP

V NP

often

sings

opera

loudly

in church

this may seem mysterious, but I’ve done it for a reason -- we’ll see in

chapter 8

V’ rules

VP V’ (a vacuous rule) V’ (AP) V’ or V’ ({AP/PP}) V’ V (NP)

An iterative (self-recursive) rule: can apply as many times as needed

Do so replacement

replace a V’ node with [did so (too)]

VP

V’

AP V’

V’ PP

V’ AP

V NP

often

sings

opera

loudly

in church

John often sings opera loudly in church and/but Mary ...

*seldom does so folksongs quietly in the library

seldom [does so] quietly in the library

seldom [does so] in the library

seldom [does so]

[does so too]

Further Evidence for V’

VP

V’

V’ PP

V’ Conj V’ P NPand with

V NP V NPeats tosses

beans salads

a fork

Flat Structure in APs

AP (AP) A– Tara is proud of Colleen– Susan is angry about the president’s politics

AP (AP) A (PP)

Flat Structure in APs

AP (AP) A (PP)

AP

AP A PPangry

A P NPvery about

school violence

Bob is very angry about school violence

but less [so] than he used to be.

AP

AP A PPangry

A P NPvery about

school violence

Bob is very angry about school violence

but less [so] about gun control.

AP

AP A PPangry

A P NPvery about

school violence

A’ rules

AP A’ (a vacuous rule) A’ (AP) A’ A’ A (PP)

An iterative (self-recursive) rule: can apply as many times as needed

A’ StructureAP

A’

AP A’

A PP very afraid

of tiger

this may seem mysterious, but I’ve done it for a reason -- we’ll see in

chapter 8

Flat Structure in PPs

P P (NP)– Tara is very in love with her boss

PP (AP) P (NP) (PP)

ok, this only shows up with the idiom “in love” and fixed expressions like it… So I’m giving you

a hokey story here.

Flat Structure in PPs

PP (AP) P (NP) (PP)

PP

AP P NP PPin

A N P NPvery love with

her boss

Mary was very in love with her boss, Susanna was less [so]

PP (AP) P (NP) (PP)

PP

AP P NP PPin

A N P NPvery love with

her boss

Mary was very in love with her boss, Susanna was less [so] with her husband.

PP (AP) P (NP) (PP)

PP

AP P NP PPin

A N P NPvery love with

her boss

P’ rules

PP P’ (a vacuous rule) P’ (AP) P’ or P’ (PP) P’ P (NP)

An iterative (self-recursive) rule: can apply as many times as needed

P’ StructurePP

P’

AP V’

V’ PP

P NP

Very

love

with her boss

this may seem mysterious, but I’ve done it for a reason -- we’ll see in

chapter 8

in

Ok, I’ll admit it, there is less evidence for this one!!!

The New Rules (don’t memorize these, we have a ways to go yet)

NP (D) N’ N’ (AP) N’ or N’ (PP) N’ N (PP) VP V’ V’ (AP) V’ or V’ ({AP/PP}) V’ V (NP) AP A’ A’ (AP) A’ A’ A (PP) PP P’ P’ (AP) P’ or P’ (PP) P’ P (NP)

YIKES! Is there a simpler way?

Are we missing any generalizations??

Generalization 1: 3 types of rules

For each major category there are 3 types of rules:

• A rule that generates the phrase NP (D) N’

• A rule that iterates: N’ (AP) N’

• A rule that introduces the “head” N’ N (PP)

specifier rule adjunct rule complement rule

Generalization 2: Headedness

In each rule the only item that is obligatory is the item that gives its category to the node that dominates it:

• NP (D) N’

• N’ (AP) N’

• N’ N (PP)

There are no rules of the form NP V AP. (this is called endocentricity)

Generalization 3: Optionality

With the exception of determiners (more on that in chapter 6), all non-head material is both phrasal and optional

• NP (D) N’

• N’ (AP) N’

• N’ N (PP)

Goals of X-bar theory

Simplify the system of rules Capture intermediate structure Capture the cross-categorial

generalizations. We will use VARIABLES to do this. A

variable is a category that can stand for any other category.

• X, Y, W, Z are variables that can stand for ANY of N,V,A,P

The X-bar Rules

Specifier Rule: XP (YP) X’ Adjunct Rule: X’ (ZP) X’ or X’ X’

(ZP) Complement Rule: X’ X (WP)

where X can stand for any category (N,V,A,P). X must be consistent through the 3 rules.

X-bar Structures

XP

X’

X’ ZP1

X’ ZP2

YP

X WP

X-bar Structures

NP

N’

N’ ZP1

N’ ZP2

YP

N WP

X-bar Structures

VP

V’

V’ ZP1

V’ ZP2

YP

V WP

X-bar Structures

AP

A’

A’ ZP1

A’ ZP2

YP

A WP

X-bar Structures

PP

P’

P’ ZP1

P’ ZP2

YP

P WP

Summary

Constituency tests show us there is intermediate structure in phrases. (evidence varies in strength)

There are Cross-Categorial generalizations to be made:

• 3 rules: Specifier, adjunct, complement

• Headedness & Endocentricity

• Optionality of modifiers

Summary

X-bar rules:– Specifier Rule: XP (YP) X’

– Adjunct Rule: X’ (ZP) X’ or X’ X’ (ZP)

– Complement Rule: X’ X (WP)

To do:– discuss the differences between the specifier/complement/adjunct

rules

– Account for crosslinguistic variation

– tidy up some ugly loose ends (like the lack of motivation for the specifier rule, The fact that determiners aren’t phrases etc.)