Keywords - L322.2 F98

Intermediate Syntax

Week 2

Week 10:: The Logical Structure of the Noun Phrase--Part 1.

• Definiteness

Operator

Discourse item

Real World Knowledge (the sun, the dog)

[DEFINITE] (or [DEF])

Demonstratives

[+Dem]

[+Close]

Category: D (Det, Determiner)

• Nouns as arguments of number

Number: [±Pl]

Number = [+Bound, +Weak]

[+Pl] morphemic form:

default = '-s'.

rare = '-en'.

merge: mice, teeth, lice, geese, feet.

unmarked merge: deer, antelope, sheep, elk

plural only: cattle, police; scissors, pants, shears, tights

Definiteness:

[±Def]

[+Def]

[±Dem]

[±Close]

all are [-Bound]

[-Def]

What is 'a'?

(Surprise): a quantifier.

Count:

[±Count]

Mass nouns are [-Count]

Count nouns are [+Count]

Nouns inherently marked as [+Pl] are [-Count] (scissors)

Quant

Quant --> [±Count]

[+Count] --> [+One], [-One] etc.

[-Count] --> SOME, MANY, MUCH, FEW, A FEW, SEVERAL.

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