Variation in mild context-sensitivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-214
Author(s):  
Robert Frank ◽  
Tim Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Linguistics ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Generative Capacity ◽  
Full Generality ◽  
Subsequent Work ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
Contemporary Work ◽  
String Pattern ◽  
Structural Descriptions

Abstract Aravind Joshi famously hypothesized that natural language syntax was characterized (in part) by mildly context-sensitive generative power. Subsequent work in mathematical linguistics over the past three decades has revealed surprising convergences among a wide variety of grammatical formalisms, all of which can be said to be mildly context-sensitive. But this convergence is not absolute. Not all mildly context-sensitive formalisms can generate exactly the same stringsets (i.e. they are not all weakly equivalent), and even when two formalisms can both generate a certain stringset, there might be differences in the structural descriptions they use to do so. It has generally been difficult to find cases where such differences in structural descriptions can be pinpointed in a way that allows linguistic considerations to be brought to bear on choices between formalisms, but in this paper we present one such case. The empirical pattern of interest involves wh-movement dependencies in languages that do not enforce the wh-island constraint. This pattern draws attention to two related dimensions of variation among formalisms: whether structures grow monotonically from one end to another, and whether structure-building operations are conditioned by only a finite amount of derivational state. From this perspective, we show that one class of formalisms generates the crucial empirical pattern using structures that align with mainstream syntactic analysis, and another class can only generate that same string pattern in a linguistically unnatural way. This is particularly interesting given that (i) the structurally-inadequate formalisms are strictly more powerful than the structurally-adequate ones from the perspective of weak generative capacity, and (ii) the formalism based on derivational operations that appear on the surface to align most closely with the mechanisms adopted in contemporary work in syntactic theory (merge and move) are the formalisms that fail to align with the analyses proposed in that work when the phenomenon is considered in full generality.

A construction grammar analysis of the transitivebeperfect in present-day Canadian English

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
YURI YERASTOV
Keyword(s):  
Argument Structure ◽  
Construction Grammar ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Underlying Structure ◽  
Canadian English ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
Fixed Material ◽  
Grammar Analysis ◽  
Generative Approach ◽  
Surface Realization

This article offers a syntactic analysis of the construction [be doneNP], e.g.I am done dinner, I am finished my homework, as found in Canadian English and some US dialects. After situating this construction in the context of a productive transitivebeperfect in Scots/English dialects, [be doneNP] will be distinguished from a set of its conceptual and structural relatives, and ultimately be shown not to be reducible to a surface realization of another underlying structure. From the perspective of syntactic theory, the article problematizes the parsimony of the mainstream generative approach (most recently in MacFadden & Alexiadou 2010) in accounting for the facts of [be doneNP] on strictly compositional grounds, as well as the mainstream view of lexical items as projecting theta grids and subcategorization frames (as e.g. in Grimshaw 1979; Emonds 2000). Following Fillmoreet al.(1988), Goldberg (1995, 2005) and others, what will be suggested instead is a construction grammar approach to [be doneNP], under which a construction holistically licenses its argument structure. Along these lines [be doneNP] will be characterized as an abstract construction with some fixed material.

Semantics for a Module

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberto G. de Almeida ◽  
Ernie Lepore
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Data ◽  
Background Knowledge ◽  
Semantic Representations ◽  
Subsequent Work ◽  
Semantic Level ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Propositional Representation ◽  
Language Input

Fodor’s The Modularity of Mind (1983) and subsequent work propose a principled distinction between perceptual computations and background knowledge. The chapter argues that language input analyzers produce a minimally—and highly constrained—context-sensitive propositional representation of the sentence, built up from sentence constituents. Compatible with the original Modularity story, it thus takes the output of sentence perception to be a “shallow” representation—though a semantic one. The empirical data discussed bear on alleged cases of sentence indeterminacy and how such cases might be assigned (shallow) semantic representations, interact with context in highly regulated ways, and whether and how they can be enriched. The chapter proposes a semantic level of representation that serves as output of the module and as input to other systems of interpretation, arguing for a form of modularity or encapsulation that is minimally context-sensitive provided that the information from context is itself determined by linguistic principles.

scholarly journals Diagnostics of robot drives based on DC motors by identifiability criterion of nonlinear discrete model in state space

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yury R. Nikitin ◽  
◽  
Sergei A. Trefilov
Keyword(s):  
Structural Information ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Scene Recognition ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Complex Scene ◽  
Dc Motors ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Structural Descriptions ◽  
Structural Methods

The paper deals with the formation of contextual grammars in the methods of complex scene recognition. It proposes the use of multi-level grammar, which includes the task of syntactic analysis of image sequences and the task of syntactic analysis of a scene taking into account the multi-level movement of objects. It is shown that the formation of grammar, describing both the structural information of the image and the interaction of images, is associated with the need to develop an algorithm to output grammar on a given set of dynamic images, which represent a learning sample. As a result of training, structural descriptions of images and descriptions of their relations are formed and later used for syntactic analysis of complex structure events. It is postulated that for dynamic scenes with multi-level movement and complex structure, which is constantly changing in time, it is reasonable to apply context grammar rules, and in this connection arises the concept of multi-level context grammar. Some basic principles of the theory of formal grammars inherent in structural methods of recognition are described.

scholarly journals Computing Vowel Harmony: The Generative Capacity of Search & Copy

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Andersson ◽  
Hossep Dolatian ◽  
Yiding Hao
Keyword(s):  
Recent Work ◽  
Mathematical Linguistics ◽  
Vowel Harmony ◽  
Formal Description ◽  
Generative Capacity ◽  
Local Functions ◽  
Finite State ◽  
State Functions

Search & Copy (S&C) is a procedural model of vowel harmony in which underspecified vowels trigger searches for targets that provide them with features. In this paper, we seek to relate the S&C formalism with models of phonological locality proposed by recent work in the subregular program. Our goal is to provide a formal description, within the framework of mathematical linguistics, of the range of possible phonological transformations that admit an analysis within S&C. We show that used in its unidirectional mode, all transformations described by an S&C analysis can be modeled by tier-based input strictly local functions (TISL). This result improves the previous result of Gainor et al 2012, which showed that vowel harmony processes can be modeled by subsequential functions. However, non-TISL transformations can be given S&C descriptions in the following ways. Firstly, since TISL functions are not closed under composition, a non-TISL vowel harmony pattern may be obtained by applying two S&C rules sequentially. Secondly, when S&C is used in its bidirectional mode, it has the ability to describe transformations that cannot be modeled by finite-state functions.

scholarly journals Introduction

2011 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Laura J. Downing
Keyword(s):  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Limited Range ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
African Languages ◽  
Bantu Languages ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
Complex Sentences ◽  
Syntactic Information ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Subject

In spite of this long history, most work to date on the phonology-syntax interface in Bantu languages suffers from limitations, due to the range of expertise required: intonation, phonology, syntax. Quite generally, intonational studies on African languages are extremely rare. Most of the existing data has not been the subject of careful phonetic analysis, whether of the prosody of neutral sentences or of questions or other focus structures. There are important gaps in our knowledge of Bantu syntax which in turn limit our understanding of the phonology-syntax interface. Recent developments in syntactic theory have provided a new way of thinking about the type of syntactic information that phonology can refer to and have raised new questions: Do only syntactic constituent edges condition prosodic phrasing? Do larger domains such as syntactic phases, or even other factors, like argument and adjunct distinctions, play a role? Further, earlier studies looked at a limited range of syntactic constructions. Little research exists on the phonology of focus or of sentences with non-canonical word order in Bantu languages. Both the prosody and the syntax of complex sentences, questions and dislocations are understudied for Bantu languages. Our project aims to remedy these gaps in our knowledge by bringing together a research team with all the necessary expertise. Further, by undertaking the intonational, phonological and syntactic analysis of several languages we can investigate whether there is any correlation among differences in morphosyntactic and prosodic properties that might also explain differences in phrasing and intonation. It will also allow us to investigate whether there are cross-linguistically common prosodic patterns for particular morpho-syntactic structure.  

In Defense of General Nativism

1986 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
William O’Grady
Keyword(s):  
Language Learning ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
General Point ◽  
Binding Theory ◽  
Genetic Structuring ◽  
Transformational Grammar ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
Indefinite Pronoun ◽  
The Mind

In a recent reply to my review of The Language Lottery, David Lightfoot (1985) attempts to rebut the claims which I made about the viability of language learning without task-specific innate principles. The basic thrust of Lightfoot’s book is that there are innate linguistic principles which constrain the form of grammars and play a crucial role in language acquisition. I referred to this view as “special nativism” and contrasted it with “general nativism”, the thesis that genetic structuring of the mind is of a more general sort and does not include principles or notions specific to language. I suggested that special nativism is linked to a particular syntactic theory (transformational grammar) and that a theory of language learning more compatible with general nativism could well emerge from a different type of syntactic analysis. As an illustration of this, I briefly outlined two counterproposals, one pertaining to the interpretation of the indefinite pronoun one and the other to binding theory. In his reply to my review, Lightfoot misinterprets my suggestions, pointing to supposed inadequacies which would undermine the more general point I advanced.

scholarly journals A syntactic method in recognizing unidentified objects

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikolay I. Sidnyaev ◽  
◽  
Yulia I. Butenko ◽  
Elizaveta E. Bolotova
Keyword(s):  
Structural Information ◽  
Complex Structure ◽  
Scene Recognition ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Dynamic Scenes ◽  
Complex Scene ◽  
Grammar Rules ◽  
Multi Level ◽  
Structural Descriptions ◽  
Structural Methods

The paper deals with the formation of contextual grammars in the methods of complex scene recognition. It proposes the use of multi-level grammar, which includes the task of syntactic analysis of image sequences and the task of syntactic analysis of a scene taking into account the multi-level movement of objects. It is shown that the formation of grammar, describing both the structural information of the image and the interaction of images, is associated with the need to develop an algorithm to output grammar on a given set of dynamic images, which represent a learning sample. As a result of training, structural descriptions of images and descriptions of their relations are formed and later used for syntactic analysis of complex structure events. It is postulated that for dynamic scenes with multi-level movement and complex structure, which is constantly changing in time, it is reasonable to apply context grammar rules, and in this connection arises the concept of multi-level context grammar. Some basic principles of the theory of formal grammars inherent in structural methods of recognition are described.

scholarly journals Optimizing over subsequences generates context-sensitive languages

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 528-537
Author(s):  
Andrew Lamont
Keyword(s):  
Optimality Theory ◽  
Generative Capacity ◽  
Context Sensitive ◽  
Finite State ◽  
Minimal Modification ◽  
Context Free

Abstract Phonological generalizations are finite-state. While Optimality Theory is a popular framework for modeling phonology, it is known to generate non-finite-state mappings and languages. This paper demonstrates that Optimality Theory is capable of generating non-context-free languages, contributing to the characterization of its generative capacity. This is achieved with minimal modification to the theory as it is standardly employed.

Medieval Commentators on the Notion ‘persona agentis’ in Priscian’s Syntactic Theory

2014 ◽  
Vol 41 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 219-245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Margareta Fredborg
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Syntactic Analysis ◽  
Underlying Structure ◽  
Verb Phrase ◽  
Syntactic Theory ◽  
Complex Sentences

Summary Medieval syntactic analysis ranges from simple word order parsing in prescriptive grammars to sophisticated discussions of first and secondary constructibles in modistic, dependency grammars. What combines these two levels is found in Priscian‘s use of actants: (1) persona agentis (= Apollonius’ ‘understood nominative’), (2) verb phrase, and (3) persona patientis, in this paradigmatic word order, corresponding to an underlying structure with an active verb, e.g., audio te “I hear you” corresponding to audieris a me “You are heard by me”, seruio tibi “I am a servant to you”, seruieris a me “You are served by me”. In medieval understanding, more complex sentences are reducible / convertible to such active / passive constructions, if one includes their particular notions of government, where verbs govern the nominative and / or oblique cases, always in separate dyadic combinations, e.g., “I hear”, “hear you”.

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