Video 2.1. Parts of Speech

Summary

In this Syntax video tutorial, Professor Andrew Carney from the University of Arizona explores the intricacies of parts of speech, challenging traditional semantic definitions and emphasizing the importance of syntactic categories in sentence construction. He discusses the limitations of intuitive understanding and highlights the need to consider distributional properties, such as affixes and syntactic positions, to accurately identify parts of speech across languages. The video also touches on the role of function words and their grammatical significance beyond semantic meaning.

Takeaways

• 📚 The video is part of a series of tutorials on syntax, led by Professor Andrew Carney, focusing on parts of speech as the building blocks of sentences.
• 🧩 Parts of speech are crucial for syntacticians because they determine how words combine in sentences, affecting their positions and functions within those sentences.
• 🔍 Traditional definitions of parts of speech, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, and adverbs, are based on semantics but often fail to account for exceptions and cross-linguistic differences.
• 🎥 The video references 'Schoolhouse Rock' as an example of outdated and incorrect semantic definitions of parts of speech that were popular in the past.
• 🚫 Semantic definitions are problematic because they do not hold up when examining words with identical or closely related meanings that can have multiple parts of speech.
• 🌐 Cross-linguistic comparison shows that semantic definitions of parts of speech do not apply universally, as the same word meaning can have different parts of speech in different languages.
• 🔬 Syntacticians use distributional definitions for parts of speech, focusing on morphological and syntactic distribution, rather than semantic definitions.
• 🔠 Morphological distribution refers to the affixes attached to words, while syntactic distribution refers to the position of words in relation to others in a sentence.
• 💡 The video emphasizes that while the definitions of parts of speech based on distribution may seem circular, they are practically describing the relationship between a word's form and its position in a sentence.
• 📝 The script provides examples of the distributional criteria for different parts of speech in English, such as the use of articles before nouns and the position of adjectives and noun phrases.
• 🔑 The video concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding parts of speech not just through their meanings but through their distribution in language to accurately identify them.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video 'Syntax: A Generative Introduction'?

The video focuses on the concept of parts of speech, which are of interest to syntacticians because they are the building blocks of sentences and determine how words can be combined.

Why are parts of speech important in syntax?

Parts of speech are important because they allow us to understand which items can appear in which positions within a sentence, and they help in identifying the syntactic categories that syntax manipulates.

What is the issue with the intuitive definitions of parts of speech based on semantics?

The intuitive definitions based on semantics are problematic because they do not account for edge cases where a word with a certain meaning can function as a different part of speech, and they do not hold true cross-linguistically.

Can you provide an example of a word that defies the semantic definition of parts of speech?

The word 'assassination' is an example. Semantically, it represents an action, but in the sentence 'The assassination of the president,' it functions as a noun.

What does the video suggest as an alternative method to determine parts of speech?

The video suggests using distributional definitions, which focus on the affixes attached to the word and the syntactic contexts in which the word appears, rather than the word's meaning.

What is the difference between morphological and syntactic distribution?

Morphological distribution refers to the affixes on a word, while syntactic distribution refers to the position of the word relative to nearby words in a sentence.

Why is the classic definition of an adverb considered 'terrifying' in the video?

The classic definition of an adverb is considered 'terrifying' because it is overly complex and includes a long list of qualities that adverbs can express, making it difficult to conceptualize as a natural class.

How does the video address the issue of words with multiple parts of speech?

The video points out that words with closely related meanings can have multiple parts of speech, such as 'father' being used as a noun, verb, and even an adjective, which challenges the semantic definition of parts of speech.

What is the role of function words in a sentence according to the video?

Function words do not have a specific meaning or reference; instead, they serve a grammatical purpose, helping to structure the sentence and connect its components.

How does the video explain the ability of native speakers to identify parts of speech in made-up words?

The video explains that native speakers can identify parts of speech in made-up words by looking at the affixes and syntactic positions of the words, rather than their meanings.