X-bar theory adds an additional levels of hierarchy to more traditional phrase structure rules using the phrasal constituent called an X-bar. An X is said to combine with a complement to form an X-bar, and an adjunct[?] is said to combine with an X-bar to form another X-bar. Finally, an X-bar is said to combined with a specifer[?] to form the top level of the phrase, the X Phrase (or XP). In this way, complements are distinguished from adjuncts by the fact that a complement has an X as a sister, whereas an adjunct has X-bar as a sister.
These rules can be formalized as follows:
We can see the syntactic structure of the verb phrase He studies linguistics at the university. The head of the VP is the verb studies which forms a V-bar with the complement linguistics. The V-bar studies linguistics then forms another V-bar with the adjunct at the university. Finally, a VP (verb phrase) is formed from the specifier NP he and the V-bar studies linguistics at the university. The syntactic structure of the noun phrase The student of linguistics at the university is almost exactly parallel. The head is the noun student, which forms an N-bar with the complement of linguistics, and the N-bar student of linguistics then forms an N-bar with the adjunct at the university. This last N-bar then forms an NP along with the determiner the, which acts as a specifer.
See also: linguistics, syntax, phrase structure rules
Search Encyclopedia
|
Featured Article
|