Creativity of Human Language Language & the Mind LING240 • Ability to combine signs with simple meanings to create utterances with Summer Session II 2005 complex meanings • Novel expressions Lecture 3 • Infinitely many Sentences

Linguistic Creativity An Account That Won’t Work

• Sentences never heard before... • “You just string words together in an – “Some purple tulips are starting to samba on the chessboard.” order that makes sense” • Sentences of prodigious length... – “Hoggle said that he thought that the odiferous in other words... leader of the had it in mind to tell the unfortunate princess that the cries that she made during her kidnapping from the nearby kingdom of Dirindwell that the goblins “Syntax is determined by Meaning” themselves thought was a general waste of countryside ...”

Syntax is More than Meaning Syntax is More than Meaning

• Nonsense sentences with clear syntax • Nonsense sentences with clear syntax

‘Twas brillig and the slithy toves Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. (Chomsky) Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; A verb crumpled the ocean. All mimsy were the borogroves, And the mome raths outgrabe I gave the question a -shimmying egg. Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! *Furiously sleep ideas green colorless. Beware the Jujub bird, and shun Ocean the crumpled verb a. The frumious Bandersnatch!” *The question I an egg goblin-shimmying gave. Lewis Carroll, Jabberwocky

1 Syntax is More than Meaning Syntax is More than Meaning

'It seems very pretty,' she said when • Nonsense sentences with nonsense syntax she had finished it, 'but it's RATHER hard to understand!' (You see she ‘Toves slithy the and brillig ‘twas didn't like to confess, ever to wabe the in gimble and gyre did... herself, that she couldn't make it out at all.) 'Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas -- only I don't exactly know what they are! However, SOMEBODY killed SOMETHING: that's clear, at any rate -- '

Syntax is More than Meaning Syntax is More than Meaning

• Ungrammatical sentences that make • Ungrammatical sentences that make perfect sense perfect sense

Jareth put the cape on. Sarah gave a ring to the Wiseman. Jareth put on the cape. Sarah gave him a ring.

Jareth put it on. Sarah donated a ring to the Wiseman. *Jareth put on it. *Sarah donated him a ring.

Syntax is More than Meaning Syntax is More than Meaning

• Ungrammatical sentences that make • Cross-language Variation perfect sense If syntax was entirely determined by meaning, Jareth made Hoggle leave. then we should not expect to find syntactic Jareth let Hoggle leave. differences between languages of the world. Jareth saw Hoggle leave. *Jareth wanted Hoggle leave. English: Sarah sees that book. *Jareth made Hoggle to leave. *Jareth let Hoggle to leave. Korean: Sarah ku chayk poata. *Jareth saw Hoggle to leave. Sarah that book see Jareth wanted Hoggle to leave.

2 Syntax is More than Meaning Syntax is More than Meaning

• Cross-language Variation • Cross-language Variation If syntax was entirely determined by meaning, If syntax was entirely determined by meaning, then then we should not expect to find syntactic we should not expect to find syntactic differences between languages of the world. differences between languages of the world. English: Baso put the money in the cupboard. English: Sarah speaks with Hoggle. Selayerese: Korean: Sarah Hoggle-hako malhata. Lataroi doe injo ri lamari injo i Baso. Sarah Hoggle with speak put money the in cupboard the Baso

So…what DOES determine how Goals of Syntactic Theory you string words together? • Build a grammar that generates all possible sentences of English Answer: Syntax! Generative Grammar (That is, our knowledge of the possible • Explain cross-language universals and FORMS of sentences in our language) cross-language variation • Explain how children successfully attain adult grammatical knowledge

A Template A Template • Noun Phrase • Verb Phrase • A sentence consists of a Noun Phrase slept followed by a Verb Phrase Hoggle tricked the guards the chicken tiptoed through the • S --> NP VP Phrase Structure Rule seven goblins tulips S Sarah left said that Hoggle Phrase Structure Tree a feeling the strangest story thought that the that you ever did hear pixies were nasty NP VP kicked the bucket

36 Sentences

3 A Template A Tiny Little Grammar

• Noun Phrase • Verb Phrase • 5 Rules • 9 Words Det: the, four, S --> NP VP some NP --> Det N VP --> V NP NP VP NP--> Det N NP--> N N: goblins, crystals, peaches Det N V NP VP--> V NP NP --> N VP--> V V: understood, VP NP VP --> V ate, approached

N V 468 Sentences

A Tiny Little Grammar The Grammar So Far… • Sentences • 5 Rules • 30 Words • 5 Rules

Jareth intimidated Hoggle S --> NP VP Det: 10 S --> NP VP NP--> Det N NP--> Det N The goblin stole the crystal. NP--> N N: 10 NP--> N VP--> V NP VP--> V NP Ludo laughed. VP--> V V: 10 VP--> V

122,100 Sentences

Justifying Structure: Coordination Embedded Sentences

• Noun Phrase coordination • Additional VP Rule

1. The goblin chased [the chicken] and [the rat]. Hoggle thought Sarah ate the peach. 2. [The knight] and [his dog] chased the goblin. VP  V S Sentence-inside-a-sentence • Verb Phrase coordination Recursion Ludo said Hoggle thought Sarah ate the peach. 3. The goblin [chased the rat] and [drank the beer]. The claimed Ludo said Hoggle thought Sarah ate the peach. • Impossible coordination of [N V] The Wiseman’s birdhat hoped the fairy claimed Ludo said Hoggle thought Sarah ate the peach. 4. *The [goblin chased] and [fairy caught] the rat. Infinitely many sentences can be generated!

4 Our Mini Grammar So Far… Complementizer • 9 Rules • Complementizer: words like THAT, IF, and WHETHER that allow one sentence to be the S --> NP VP subject or object of another sentence S --> S’ VP

• Hoggle realized that Sarah ate the peach. NP --> Det N NP --> N • Whether Sarah ate the peach didn’t matter. VP --> V NP • S’ → Comp S VP --> V VP --> V S • VP V S’ → VP --> V S’ • S → S’ VP S’ --> Comp S

Optional & Obligatory Phrases Optional & Obligatory Phrases

• Obligatory phrases • English sentences require a subject a. *Hoggle feared. Requirement for Sarah ate the peach. b. *Sarah hit. direct object comes *Ate the peach. c. *The fairy mentioned. from the specific Hoggle fears Jareth. d. *Sarah put the book. verbs used *Fears Jareth. e. *Ludo devoured. f. Hoggle feared Jareth. • English sentences do not require an object g. Sarah hit the wall. h. The fairy mentioned she didn’t grant wishes. Ludo slept. i. Sarah put the book on the table. Sir Didymus sang. j. Ludo devoured the pizza.

Optional & Obligatory Phrases But what about ambiguous sentences? • Optional Phrases Jack saw the giant with the mirror. Sarah sang a song in the forest. The lifeguard rescued the swimmer with no clothes on.

Hoggle slept all evening. Flying X-wings can be dangerous. Visiting relatives can be boring. Sarah arrived at thirteen o’clock. Hoggle claimed Sarah left a moment ago. Ludo decided to visit Sir Didymus in the Bog of Eternal Stench.

5 Structures Ambiguous Sentences NP-modifier VP Jack saw the giant with the mirror. VP --> V NP NP --> NP PP VP PP VP PP --> P NP with the m.

Jack saw the giant with the mirror. V NP V NP saw the giant saw VP --> V PP VP --> V NP PP --> P NP VP-modifier NP PP the giant with the m.

Our Mini Grammar So Far… “Ditransitive” Verbs S --> NP VP S --> S’ VP PP --> P NP VP → V NP NP NP --> Det N VP → V NP PP NP --> N NP --> NP PP (NP modifier rule) Jareth gave the peach to Sarah. VP --> V NP Jareth gave Sarah the peach. VP --> V Hoggle brought Sarah the peach. VP --> V S VP --> V S’ VP --> VP PP (VP modifier rule) *Sarah donated the Wiseman a ring. S’ --> Comp S *The fairy mentioned Jack a secret.

Our Not-So-Mini Grammar S --> NP VP S --> S’ VP Tree-Drawing Practice PP --> P NP NP --> Det N NP --> N NP --> NP PP (NP modifier rule) VP --> V NP VP --> V VP --> V S VP --> V S’ VP --> V NP NP VP --> V NP PP VP --> VP PP (VP modifier rule) S’ --> Comp S VP --> Adverb VP (VP modifier rule) N --> AdjectiveP N (N modifier rule) AdjectiveP --> Adverb AdjectiveP (AdjP modifier rule) AdjectiveP --> Adjective

6 Plugging these little trees Plugging these little trees together like puzzle pieces… together like puzzle pieces…

Plugging these little trees Arguments & Modifiers together like puzzle pieces… • Subjects

a.*Feared Jareth b. *Slept

• Objects

a.Hoggle feared *(Jareth) b.Jareth gave Hoggle *(the peach)

Arguments & Modifiers Arguments & Modifiers a. The fairy sat a. The fairy sat b. The fairy sat on the mat. b. The fairy sat on the mat VP VP PP → VP → VP PP can apply to itself can apply to itself b. The fairy sat on the mat in the sun c. The fairy sat on the mat in the sun at Goes with any kind of VP d. The guards chased Hoggle in the morning thirteen o’clock… e. The guards chased Hoggle through the labyrinth in the morning

7 Different VP Rules Arguments & Modifiers Argument: Modifier NP → NP PP VP --> V NP PP VP --> VP PP can apply to itself VP VP The bird on his head The man with a birdhat V NP PP VP PP give the peach to Sarah chased Hoggle through the labyrinth verb specific vs. verb independent non-recursive vs. recursive inside vs. outside minimal VP constituent

Another look at Ambiguity Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers

Jack saw the giant with the mirror. • Obligatory phrases are arguments Hoggle feared Jareth in the beginning. VP VP Sarah put the book on her dresser after dinner.

• Arguments are implied by ‘core’ meaning of verb VP PP NP V fear with the mirror saw eat send NP PP V NP think saw the giant the giant with the mirror give

Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers

The “Do So” Substitution Test Sarah put a book on her dresser, and Jack did so (too). Hoggle caught , and Ludo did so (too). did so = ‘put a book on her dresser’ did so = ‘caught fairies’ *Sarah put a book on her dresser, and Jack did so *Hoggle caught fairies, and Ludo did so pixies. on the tree stump.

*did so = ‘caught’ *did so = ‘put a book’

8 Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers A Little Picture

Jareth kicked a goblin in the morning, and • Generalization: do so is used to replace a Verb Phrase Ludo did so in the afternoon. VP

did so = ‘kicked a goblin’ Modifiers: VP PP Outside minimal *Jareth kicked a goblin in the morning, and VP constituent Ludo did so a chicken in the afternoon. Arguments: V NP PP Inside minimal *did so = ‘kicked’ VP constituent

Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers

a. The goblin chased the chicken, and the rat did so too. d. The goblin chased the chicken around the castle in the did so = chased the chicken morning, and the rat did so around the moat in the afternoon. b. The goblin chased the chicken around the castle, and the rat did so too. did so = chased the chicken did so = chased the chicken around the castle e. The goblin chased the chicken around the castle in the c. The goblin chased the chicken around the castle, and the rat did so around the moat. morning, and the rat did so in the afternoon. did so = chased the chicken did so = chased the chicken around the castle

Distinguishing Arguments & Modifiers Summary: The “Do So” Test

What about the following… • The “do so” test is a tool we can use to determine if a sequence of words is a VP Sarah went to the castle at the center of the Labyrinth or not Jareth sent a crystal to Sarah • Can help us distinguish between Jareth sang the song to Tobey arguments and modifiers of a VP – All phrases inside minimal VP are arguments – All phrases outside minimal VP are modifiers

9 Structures Structural Relations

• Represent the way in which speakers a. Nobody said anything. group words in their heads b. Hoggle didn’t say anything. • Explain word-order regularities c. *Somebody said anything. d. *Anybody left. • Framework for creativity • Built from information in the mental e. Nobody said that anybody left. f. Hoggle didn’t think that somebody said anything. dictionary (i.e. which verbs take how many arguments)

Structural Relations Structural Relations

When is anything possible in English? *Anybody read nothing.

Similar terms: any, anybody, ever, a damn thing, *A person who has nothing pleases anybody. lift a finger, give a sh*t, give a flying f**k, budge an inch *Because nobody came, anybody left. *After the goblin king said nothing, the goblins said anything. ‘Negative Polarity Items’

Structural Relations Structural Relations A A

B C B C

D E F G D E F G

c-command A node c-commands only its sister(s), and any nodes contained inside its sister(s)

10 Structural Relations Structural Relations A A

B C B C

D E F G D E F G

c-command c-command A node c-commands only its sister(s), A node c-commands only its sister(s), and any nodes contained inside its sister(s) and any nodes contained inside its sister(s)

Negative Polarity Items Negative Polarity Items S S

NP VP Negative expression c-commands NP VP nobody anything: sentence is ok NP S’ V NP V S’ anything said the goblin bungled Comp Negative expression does not Comp S S that that c-command anything: sentence is bad

NP VP NP VP Hoggle gap

V NP V NP saw anything captured nobody

Structural Relations Structural Relations

a. Nobody said anything. b. Hoggle didn’t say anything.

c. *Somebody said anything. Negative Polarity Items, e.g. any, must be d. *Anybody left. c–commanded by a negative element e. Nobody said that anybody left. f. Hoggle didn’t think that Ludo said anything.

The simple structural relation of c-command can account for the distribution of negative polarity items like any.

11 Structural Relations Structural Generalizations • Coordination with • coordinate g. *Anybody read nothing. and constituents h. *A person who has nothing pleases anybody. i. Nothing pleases anybody. • do so substitution • do so = VP j. *Because nobody came, anybody left. k. *A fairy with nothing pleases anybody. • licensing any, • Negative element The simple structural relation of c-command ever, a damn must c-command can account for the distribution of negative thing, etc. any, etc. polarity items like any.

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