Phrase Structure Theory and Computational Operations in the Generative Grammar
Xiong Zhong-r · Journal of Tianjin Foreign Studies University · 2009
The phrase structure in the generative grammar is endocentric to constrain possible phrase structures,and its branch is binary to represent the asymmetry between the constituents in the structure.These properties are determined by the operation merger.The elements merged are uninterpretive in form to necessarily trigger the operation agree.The operation argee may trigger the operation move to delete a certain uninterpretive formal features.In the merger,functional categories as head are selective,i.e.to select arguments,to yield generalized argument structure.Move will have all other discourse-related semantic properties,such as old information,specificity and scopal effects.Therefore,three layers of sentences are determined,i.e.thematic,inflectional and discourse layer.