ExtrapositionExtraposition is a mechanism of syntax that alters word order in such a manner that a relatively "heavy" constituent appears to the right of its canonical position. Extraposing a constituent results in a discontinuity and in this regard, it is unlike shifting, which does not generate a discontinuity. The extraposed constituent is separated from its governor by one or more words that dominate its governor. Two types of extraposition are acknowledged in theoretical syntax: standard cases where extraposition is optional and it-extraposition where extraposition is obligatory.
Déplacement QU-Dans le domaine de la linguistique, le déplacement QU- est une transformation syntaxique qui concerne le mouvement des syntagmes interrogatifs. Cette opération est appelée « déplacement QU- » parce que plusieurs mots interrogatifs français commencent par les lettres « qu- », tels que qui, que, quoi, quel(le)(s) et quand. Les mots interrogatifs qui ne commencent pas « qu- », mais sont toujours assujettis au deplacement QU-, incluent pourquoi, comment, combien, et où.
Scrambling (linguistics)Scrambling is a syntactic phenomenon wherein sentences can be formulated using a variety of different word orders without any change in meaning. Scrambling often results in a discontinuity since the scrambled expression can end up at a distance from its head. Scrambling does not occur in English, but it is frequent in languages with freer word order, such as German, Russian, Persian and Turkic languages. The term was coined by Haj Ross in his 1967 dissertation and is widely used in present work, particularly with the generative tradition.
Discontinuity (linguistics)In linguistics, a discontinuity occurs when a given word or phrase is separated from another word or phrase that it modifies in such a manner that a direct connection cannot be established between the two without incurring crossing lines in the tree structure. The terminology that is employed to denote discontinuities varies depending on the theory of syntax at hand. The terms discontinuous constituent, displacement, long distance dependency, unbounded dependency, and projectivity violation are largely synonymous with the term discontinuity.
Syntactic movementSyntactic movement is the means by which some theories of syntax address discontinuities. Movement was first postulated by structuralist linguists who expressed it in terms of discontinuous constituents or displacement. Some constituents appear to have been displaced from the position in which they receive important features of interpretation. The concept of movement is controversial and is associated with so-called transformational or derivational theories of syntax (such as transformational grammar, government and binding theory, minimalist program).
Inversion (linguistique)En linguistique, l’inversion est un procédé par lequel on change l’ordre canonique (attendu, consacré, habituel, normal) de deux entités grammaticales, en intervertissant leurs places. Ces entités peuvent être les éléments d’une forme grammaticale composée, les composants d’un syntagme, des termes à fonction syntaxique d’une phrase simple ou des propositions d’une phrase complexe.
Constituent (linguistics)In syntactic analysis, a constituent is a word or a group of words that function as a single unit within a hierarchical structure. The constituent structure of sentences is identified using tests for constituents. These tests apply to a portion of a sentence, and the results provide evidence about the constituent structure of the sentence. Many constituents are phrases. A phrase is a sequence of one or more words (in some theories two or more) built around a head lexical item and working as a unit within a sentence.
ActantEn grammaire, un actant (ou argument en grammaire générative) est un élément syntaxique nominal imposé par la valence de certaines classes lexicales : le verbe principalement, mais aussi le nom, l'adjectif, la préposition... Un actant se situe dans le schéma actanciel qui décrit l'organisation syntaxique nécessaire à certains mots dotés d'une valence afin qu'ils soient saturés. Ces termes doivent déterminer un procès, ou contenu sémantique du prédicat capable de transformer le thème, qu'il indique un processus (se reposer, travailler, tousser, etc.
Verb phraseIn linguistics, a verb phrase (VP) is a syntactic unit composed of a verb and its arguments except the subject of an independent clause or coordinate clause. Thus, in the sentence A fat man quickly put the money into the box, the words quickly put the money into the box constitute a verb phrase; it consists of the verb put and its arguments, but not the subject a fat man. A verb phrase is similar to what is considered a predicate in traditional grammars.
Verbe modalL'auxiliaire modal ou semi-auxiliaire modal (du latin modus,-i, « mesure musicale, mode, manière ») est un des outils linguistiques parmi d'autres permettant d'exprimer une modalité, c'est-à-dire de présenter un fait comme possible, impossible, nécessaire, permis, obligatoire, souhaitable, vraisemblable. L'énoncé Il travaille est une affirmation simple, rendant compte d'un fait, alors que Il peut ou Il doit travailler sont des assertions modalisées par le recours aux verbes pouvoir et devoir.
