Conjunction
Linguistics 222
Conjunction is a configuration that links to identical
nodes. In this case, the same node dominates the conjoined node.
Conjunction is a special form of adjunction in the current theory.In
the following structure two NPs are conjoined. Note that the node
that dominates them is also an NP:
In cojunction, only like nodes
can be conjoined and the dominant node must be of the same
type. This means that
NP must dominate NP Conj NP
VP must dominate VP Conj VP
XP must dominate XP and XP
X must doinate X and X
and so forth.
Illegal are:
*[XP X and X]
*[XP X and XP]
*[X XP and X]
*[XP YP and XP]
and so forth.
Conjunction in English may be
expanded in one of two ways:
1) The conjunction may be placed before the final member of the conjunction string:
John, Mary, Alice, Susan, Tom, Harry, and Eloise.
apples, pears, peaches, plums, pears, apricots, and watermelons
2) The conjunction may be placed between each member of the string:
John and Mary and Alice and Susan and Tom and Harry and Eloise.
apples and pears and peaches and plums and pears and apricots and watermelons
Conjunction of one of the three
basic structures of syntax: head-complement, adjunction, and conjunction.
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