Open AccessSimpler Syntax and explanation
Author(s) -
Peter W. Culicover
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
proceedings of the international conference on head-driven phrase structure grammar
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1535-1793
DOI - 10.21248/hpsg.2013.14
Subject(s) - grammar , linguistics , syntax , competence (human resources) , computer science , coherence (philosophical gambling strategy) , psychology , natural language processing , social psychology , mathematics , philosophy , statistics
Simpler Syntax is an approach to grammar that calls for very restrictive limits on the notion of'grammatical competence'. Specifically, it does not account for unacceptability judgments forsentences that are well-formed if they are fully licensed by the constructions of the language. SSleads us to seek accounts for such judgments in terms other than grammar per se, e.g., processingcomplexity, semantic or pragmatic well-formedness, discourse coherence, etc. I review severalexamples that suggest that the line that SS draws between competence on the one hand and performanceand other mechanisms on the other is on the right track. Specifically, it does not account forunacceptability judgments for sentences that are well-formed if they are fully licensed by theconstructions of the language. SS leads us to seek accounts for such judgments in terms other thangrammar per se, e.g., processing complexity, semantic or pragmatic well-formedness, discoursecoherence, etc. I review several examples that suggest that the line that SS draws betweencompetence on the one hand and performance and other mechanisms on the other is on the right track.