SyntaxSyntax

SyntaxSyntax The natural internal “grammar” of The natural internal “grammar” of

a language. a language.

SyntaxSyntax The natural internal “grammar” of The natural internal “grammar” of

a language.a language. Varies greatly from language to Varies greatly from language to

language language

SyntaxSyntax The natural internal “grammar” of The natural internal “grammar” of

a language.a language. Varies greatly from language to Varies greatly from language to

languagelanguage However some aspects of of However some aspects of of

syntax exist all languages, as far syntax exist all languages, as far as anyone knows, e.g. nouns and as anyone knows, e.g. nouns and verbs. verbs.

SyntaxSyntax What is the normal word order of What is the normal word order of

an English sentence?an English sentence?

SyntaxSyntax What is the normal word order of What is the normal word order of

an English sentence?an English sentence? S-V-O: The dog bit the child.S-V-O: The dog bit the child.

SyntaxSyntax What is the normal word order of What is the normal word order of

an English sentence?an English sentence? What about: The child bit the dog?What about: The child bit the dog?

SyntaxSyntax What is the normal word order of What is the normal word order of

an English sentence?an English sentence? What about: The child bit the dog?What about: The child bit the dog? Or: The bit the child dogOr: The bit the child dog

SyntaxSyntax What is the normal word order of What is the normal word order of

an English sentence?an English sentence? What about: The child bit the dog?What about: The child bit the dog? Or: The bit the child dogOr: The bit the child dog Or: Bit the child the dogOr: Bit the child the dog

SyntaxSyntax What is the normal word order of What is the normal word order of

an English sentence?an English sentence? English is not a highly inflected English is not a highly inflected

language, so the word order is very language, so the word order is very important.important.

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Poeta puellae magnas rosas datPoeta puellae magnas rosas dat

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Poeta puellae magnas rosas datPoeta puellae magnas rosas dat A poet to a girl large roses givesA poet to a girl large roses gives

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Poeta puellae magnas rosas datPoeta puellae magnas rosas dat A poet to a girl large roses giveA poet to a girl large roses give Could also be:Could also be:

– Puellae magnas rosas dat poetaPuellae magnas rosas dat poeta– Dat poeta puellae rosas magnas, etc.Dat poeta puellae rosas magnas, etc.

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Why is this possible?Why is this possible?

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Why is this possible?Why is this possible? Inflectional morphemes!!Inflectional morphemes!!

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Why is this possible?Why is this possible? Inflectional morphemes!!Inflectional morphemes!! Puella (nom. The girl)Puella (nom. The girl) Puellae (dat. To the girl)Puellae (dat. To the girl)

SyntaxSyntax Latin word order (a highly inflected Latin word order (a highly inflected

language)language) Why is this possible?Why is this possible? Inflectional morphemes!!Inflectional morphemes!! Rosa (nom. The rose)Rosa (nom. The rose) Rosas (pl. acc. direct object - the Rosas (pl. acc. direct object - the

roses)roses)

SyntaxSyntax Spanish word order is highly Spanish word order is highly

flexible as well, only it is not highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected.inflected.

SyntaxSyntax Spanish word order is highly Spanish word order is highly

flexible as well, only it is not highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected.inflected.

The poet gives the girl large roses.The poet gives the girl large roses.

SyntaxSyntax Spanish word order is highly Spanish word order is highly

flexible as well, only it is not highly flexible as well, only it is not highly inflected.inflected.

The poet gives the girl large roses.The poet gives the girl large roses. El poeta le da a la chica las rosas El poeta le da a la chica las rosas

grandesgrandes

SyntaxSyntax Spanish word order is highly flexible Spanish word order is highly flexible

as well, only it is not highly as well, only it is not highly inflected.inflected.

The poet gives the girl large roses.The poet gives the girl large roses. El poeta le da a la chica las rosas El poeta le da a la chica las rosas

grandesgrandes Le da a la chica las rosas grandes el Le da a la chica las rosas grandes el

poetapoeta

SyntaxSyntax Spanish word order is highly flexible as Spanish word order is highly flexible as

well, only it is not highly inflected.well, only it is not highly inflected. The poet gives the girl large roses.The poet gives the girl large roses. El poeta le da a la chica las rosas El poeta le da a la chica las rosas

grandesgrandes Le da a la chica las rosas grandes el Le da a la chica las rosas grandes el

poetapoeta A la chica le da las rosas grandes el A la chica le da las rosas grandes el

poetapoeta

SyntaxSyntax French, in the same family as French, in the same family as

Spanish, does not have flexible Spanish, does not have flexible word orderword order

SyntaxSyntax French, in the same family as French, in the same family as

Spanish, does not have flexible Spanish, does not have flexible word orderword order

Le poète donne les grandes fleurs Le poète donne les grandes fleurs à la fille.à la fille.

SyntaxSyntax Other languages have limited Other languages have limited

flexibility but handle syntax flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English.entirely differently from English.

SyntaxSyntax Other languages have limited Other languages have limited

flexibility but handle syntax flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English.entirely differently from English.

Manx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thieManx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thie

SyntaxSyntax Other languages have limited Other languages have limited

flexibility but handle syntax flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English.entirely differently from English.

Manx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thieManx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thie Is the man going to the house - Is the man going to the house -

VSOVSO

SyntaxSyntax Other languages have limited Other languages have limited

flexibility but handle syntax flexibility but handle syntax entirely differently from English.entirely differently from English.

Manx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thieManx: Ta’n dooiney goll dys yn thie Is the man going to the house - Is the man going to the house -

VSOVSO Welsh: Mae’r dyn yn mynd i’r tWelsh: Mae’r dyn yn mynd i’r t

SyntaxSyntax Whatever the syntax of a Whatever the syntax of a

language, it’s speakers language, it’s speakers automatically know whether or not automatically know whether or not what they hear or say is what they hear or say is acceptable (in the sense of getting acceptable (in the sense of getting their point across)their point across)