This is an introductory level tutorial, which only addresses the relationship between a verb and its NP arguments, including those found as object of an obligatory prepositional phrase. The explanations of the examples apply to Standard English. Semantics: Thematic Roles Intuition Human beings possess an innate ability to determine whether or not a sentence or phrase is grammatical. These … [Read more...]
Syntactic Constituency
Although language seems to be spoken linearly, since the only way we can do language is by having one word follow another, sentences and phrases are actually formed by attaching constituents to each other in a hierarchical construct. Consider the following sentence. (1) Harriet mistakenly went home with her cousin’s jacket. We know intuitively who did what. Furthermore, we know that … [Read more...]
Minimal Distinctions
Phonemes can be thought of as a bundle of features. Any sound you know, can be described by a list of distinctive features they bear such that if one feature is altered, the sound is altered. For instance, /s/ is a voiceless, alveolar fricative. By changing the voicing feature to ‘voiced’ we change the sound to /z/. Distinctive features enable us to: -classify phonemes into … [Read more...]
The Basics on Syllabic Structure
A syllable (σ) is a phonological unit of sonority. Sonority can be described by the degree of airflow obstruction and voicing that occurs during phonation. Sonority is inversely correlated with constriction of the articulators in the oral cavity. Sonorous sounds have a more ‘sing-able’ quality, that is they are more prominent in amplitude and length than less sonorous sounds. Sonority shows the … [Read more...]
The Basics of Syntax
Syntax is the study of grammatical relationships between words and how they are combined to form phrases and sentences. The word ‘syntax’ has its roots in the Greek word syntaxis, which means ‘arrangement’. Syntacticians study patterns of sentence formation in order to better understand universal principles (those that apply to all languages) and those that apply to specific languages … [Read more...]
The Basics of Linguistic Research
Linguistics is a Science As you begin to think about your research topic, keep in mind that you will be conducting a scientific study. Whether you are building a perception experiment or addressing a core grammar theory, there is a prescribed that must be followed. Linguistic research can be quantitative or qualitative, depending on the nature of data you are gathering. In quantitative … [Read more...]
Writing Linguistic Research
Linguistics is the scientific approach to the study of language as a human biological system. The study of language as such is considered a science in a wide-ranging manner. Linguistic research can be based on theoretical features of grammar such as word/sentence structure, or on qualitative and quantitative aspects of linguistic data. Topics of research can range from ancient writing systems … [Read more...]
An Intro to Phrase Structure Rules
Speakers of any language have the ability to intuitively judge whether or not a sentence is grammatical, or well-formed. For example, speakers of English know that (1) is acceptable and (2) is not, even without necessarily understanding why. (1a) Wise teachers listen to their students. (1b)* Listen to their students wise teachers. This ability to make these judgments is based on the … [Read more...]
Verbal Morphology
Verbal Morphology - Tense, Mood, Aspect, and Voice In many languages, a number of different features are marked on the verb and serve to situate and contextualize its usage. Tense, mood, aspect, and voice are some of the most common of these types of features. Tense locates an event in time, while aspect refers to the way in which the event unfolds within a time frame. Mood signals the … [Read more...]
Affixation in English
Affixation is the morphological process in by which bound morphemes are attached to a roots or stems to mark changes in meaning, part of speech, or grammatical relationships. Affixes take on several forms and serve different functions. In this tutorial, we will be looking specifically at affixation in Standard English. Affixes An affix is a bound morpheme that attaches to a root or stem to … [Read more...]