"What Is Syntax in Grammar?": Oregon State Guide to Grammar

Summary

This transcript explains the concept of syntax in language, using Noam Chomsky's famous sentence 'colorless green ideas sleep furiously' to highlight how sentences can follow grammatical rules while still being semantically nonsensical. It explores how different languages, like Arabic and Japanese, structure sentences differently and how syntactical norms influence our understanding of meaning. The transcript also discusses how English syntax can be creatively manipulated, using Shakespeare as an example, to challenge expectations while still conveying meaning effectively.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Neither sentence 'colorless green ideas sleep furiously' nor 'furiously sleep ideas green colorless' makes semantic sense.
• ❌ The ideas represented in both sentences are illogical, as ideas can’t be green or sleep, let alone furiously.
• 📚 Syntax refers to the structure of a sentence, not the meaning of the words, but how they are organized.
• 🔤 Most simple modern English sentences follow a subject-verb-object structure, like 'The child kicked the ball.'
• 🌍 Some languages like Arabic use verb-subject-object structure, while languages like Hindi and Japanese use subject-object-verb.
• 🧐 Non-standard syntaxes in English, like verb-subject-object or subject-object-verb, may be understandable but sound awkward.
• 🤔 Changing syntax, like 'The ball kicked the child,' alters the sentence’s meaning, highlighting the importance of word order.
• ⚡ Syntax allows us to quickly interpret meaning because we share common expectations about word order in a language.
• 🎭 Poets and writers often bend or break syntactical rules to emphasize certain ideas, as seen in Shakespeare's 'Plots have I laid.'
• 🎨 In creative writing and poetry, non-standard syntax is expected and helps to create a unique effect.

Q & A

What is the main point of the comparison between 'colorless green ideas sleep furiously' and 'furiously sleep ideas green colorless'?

Both sentences are grammatically correct but semantically nonsensical. The example demonstrates that syntax (grammatical structure) can be correct, even if the meaning (semantics) is absurd.

Why do neither of the two sentences 'colorless green ideas sleep furiously' and 'furiously sleep ideas green colorless' make sense?

The sentences are illogical because ideas cannot be both 'green' and 'colorless,' and ideas do not 'sleep,' let alone 'sleep furiously.'

Who created the famous example of 'colorless green ideas sleep furiously' and what was its purpose?

The example was created by Noam Chomsky to illustrate the distinction between syntax and semantics. A sentence can be syntactically correct but still lack meaning.

What is syntax?

Syntax is the set of rules that govern how words are arranged in a sentence. It focuses on the structure of sentences, regardless of the meaning of the words.

What is the typical word order for modern English sentences?

Most modern English sentences follow a subject-verb-object (SVO) structure, like 'The child kicked the ball.'

How do syntaxes differ across languages?

Some languages, like modern standard Arabic, use a verb-subject-object (VSO) structure, while others, like Hindi and Japanese, often use a subject-object-verb (SOV) order. These arrangements are natural in those languages but can sound awkward in English.

Why does the sentence 'the ball kicked the child' sound awkward or incorrect in English?

The sentence uses an object-verb-subject (OVS) structure, which is not common in English. It also changes the meaning of the sentence by making the ball the subject, which conflicts with typical expectations of how sentences are structured in English.

What is the role of syntax in understanding meaning?

Syntax helps us quickly and easily understand meaning because we share common expectations about how words are arranged. Deviations from expected word order can confuse or change the meaning.

Why do writers and poets sometimes deviate from normal syntax?

Writers and poets may rearrange word order to emphasize certain ideas, create a specific rhythm or rhyme, or enhance creativity. This is common in poetry and literature where readers expect such deviations.

What is an example of creative syntax from Shakespeare's 'Richard III'?

In 'Plots have I laid,' Shakespeare uses an object-verb-subject structure instead of the typical subject-verb-object order to create emphasis and poetic effect.