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Questions and Answers
What is one of the requirements for an adequate theory of Universal Grammar (UG)?
What is one of the requirements for an adequate theory of Universal Grammar (UG)?
- Must be complex in nature
- Must be vague in explanation
- Must be descriptively adequate (correct)
- Must be focused on non-human languages
The Innateness Hypothesis suggests that all aspects of language competence are learned through experience.
The Innateness Hypothesis suggests that all aspects of language competence are learned through experience.
False (B)
What is the primary focus of Minimalist Syntax?
What is the primary focus of Minimalist Syntax?
To create a simplified model of Generative grammar.
The principles of UG are based on __________ determinants.
The principles of UG are based on __________ determinants.
Match the following components of UG to their descriptions:
Match the following components of UG to their descriptions:
Which principle suggests that certain language capabilities are present without previous experience?
Which principle suggests that certain language capabilities are present without previous experience?
UG principles support that all languages are grammatically identical.
UG principles support that all languages are grammatically identical.
Name one function of Universal Grammar principles.
Name one function of Universal Grammar principles.
According to the Innateness Hypothesis, aspects of language competence are part of genetic __________.
According to the Innateness Hypothesis, aspects of language competence are part of genetic __________.
Which of the following is an abstract noun?
Which of the following is an abstract noun?
A collective noun refers to a single entity representing a group.
A collective noun refers to a single entity representing a group.
What are the three subcategories of verbs mentioned?
What are the three subcategories of verbs mentioned?
An adjective can describe a noun as well as express degrees of __________.
An adjective can describe a noun as well as express degrees of __________.
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Match the following terms with their definitions:
Which example illustrates a transitive verb?
Which example illustrates a transitive verb?
Frogs and tables are examples of abstract nouns.
Frogs and tables are examples of abstract nouns.
What is a key characteristic of intransitive verbs?
What is a key characteristic of intransitive verbs?
Nouns can often be preceded by a __________.
Nouns can often be preceded by a __________.
Identify the example of an adjective from the options below.
Identify the example of an adjective from the options below.
Which of the following is an example of a definite article?
Which of the following is an example of a definite article?
Demonstrative pronouns refer to items based on their physical distance from the speaker.
Demonstrative pronouns refer to items based on their physical distance from the speaker.
What are determiners that specify the quantity of a set of things called?
What are determiners that specify the quantity of a set of things called?
Which of the following is an example of a circumposition?
Which of the following is an example of a circumposition?
The word '_____ ' is an example of a personal pronoun.
The word '_____ ' is an example of a personal pronoun.
Prepositions can undergo inflection for tense, number, and superlative forms.
Prepositions can undergo inflection for tense, number, and superlative forms.
What is the semantic role of prepositions?
What is the semantic role of prepositions?
Match the following types of pronouns with their examples:
Match the following types of pronouns with their examples:
Which conjunction term describes a construction with two or more conjunctions where all parts belong to the same category?
Which conjunction term describes a construction with two or more conjunctions where all parts belong to the same category?
A circumposition is one that stands on both ____ of its complement.
A circumposition is one that stands on both ____ of its complement.
Match the following languages with their examples of prepositions:
Match the following languages with their examples of prepositions:
Which of the following phrases is an example of a noun phrase following a preposition?
Which of the following phrases is an example of a noun phrase following a preposition?
The word 'under' can form a plural when used as a preposition.
The word 'under' can form a plural when used as a preposition.
Provide an example of a circumposition.
Provide an example of a circumposition.
Prepositions can be followed by a noun phrase (NP), another prepositional phrase (PP), or ____ be followed by anything.
Prepositions can be followed by a noun phrase (NP), another prepositional phrase (PP), or ____ be followed by anything.
Which example shows a preposition followed by another prepositional phrase?
Which example shows a preposition followed by another prepositional phrase?
What does the phrase 'op de heuvel' mean in English?
What does the phrase 'op de heuvel' mean in English?
The word 'brilling' is an adjective.
The word 'brilling' is an adjective.
What type of word class is 'determiner'?
What type of word class is 'determiner'?
'Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the _____ Bansersnatch.'
'Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun the _____ Bansersnatch.'
Match the following words with their definitions:
Match the following words with their definitions:
Which of the following words serves a grammatical function?
Which of the following words serves a grammatical function?
The term 'vorpal' is an adjective.
The term 'vorpal' is an adjective.
What is the primary function of a determiner?
What is the primary function of a determiner?
He took his _____ sword in hand.
He took his _____ sword in hand.
Match the following languages with their phrases:
Match the following languages with their phrases:
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Study Notes
Language Faculty
- The Language Faculty is the part of the brain responsible for language.
- The innate hypothesis states that certain aspects of language competence are present at birth and not acquired or learned.
- The Innateness Hypothesis suggests that these aspects are part of genetic inheritance and universal across all human languages.
- These aspects are expressed in the form of Universal Grammar (UG) principles.
Universal Grammar (UG)
- It contains a set of genetically-determined principles that guide language acquisition in children.
- UG principles do not dictate that all languages are grammatically identical.
- UG theory should be:
- Descriptively adequate
- Explanatory adequate
- Adequately constrained
- Learnable
- Economical
Minimalist Syntax
- The newest model within the generative approach.
Word Classes
- Nouns
- Indicate persons, places, and things (including abstract things).
- They can be preceded by determiners (including articles).
- Can be made plural.
- Verbs
- Express actions, events, and states.
- Categorized as intransitive, transitive, or ditransitive.
- Transitive verbs combine with a direct object.
- Intransitive verbs do not combine with a direct object.
- Adjectives
- Describe nouns.
- Express degrees of comparison.
- Attribute use precedes the noun as part of a noun phrase.
- Predicative use follows the noun as part of a verb phrase.
- Can be followed by prepositions like about, to, and of.
- The adjective category is not universal; some languages lack true adjectives.
- Prepositions
- Mark spatial relationships between two elements.
- Follow a noun phrase, another prepositional phrase, or no complement.
- Cannot undergo inflection.
- Form a subclass of the category of Adpositions.
- Prepositions precede their complement.
- Adverbs
- Modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
- Express time, frequency, manner, place, and degree.
- Circumpositions
- Are a type of Adposition with two parts.
- The complement is placed between the two parts.
- Function Words
- Have no descriptive content but serve a grammatical function.
- Include determiners, conjunctions, pronouns, and auxiliary verbs.
- Determiners
- Modify nouns but lack descriptive content.
- Include articles, demonstrative pronouns, and quantifiers.
- Can be prenominal (used before a noun) or pronominal (used alone).
- Conjunctions
- Join words, phrases, or clauses.
- Co-ordinated constructions can contain multiple conjunctions.
- Conjuncts must belong to the same category.
- Pronouns
- Substitute for nouns.
- Types: Personal, possessive, relative, demonstrative, interrogative.
- Pronouns like personal pronouns can have different forms depending on grammatical function.
- In English and Afrikaans, personal pronouns have distinct case forms.
Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky”
- The poem provides examples of various word classes.
- Examples: brilling, sithy, toves, gyre, gimble, wable, mimsy, borogves, mome, raths, outgrabe, beward, Jabbberwock, jaws, claws, catch, Jubjub, shun, frumious, Bansersnatch, hus, vorpal, manxome, foe, sought, Tumtum, thought.
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