Project 4: Syntax and Semantics
The assignment is to develop the syntax and semantics of your language.
Part 1: Syntax
What is the basic word order in your language: SOV, VSO, SVO, etc.? Provide an example sentence with a transitive verb.
Provide Phrase Structure Rules (with arrows) and glossed and translated examples for all ten structures below.
A Determiner in relation to the Noun
A Degree (Intensifier) word in relation to the Adjective
An Adjective in relation to the Noun
An Adposition in relation to the Noun Phrase
A transitive Verb in relation to the Noun Phrase Direct Object
A Verb Phrase that takes a Complementizer Phrase (S) as its complement
A conjoined Noun Phrase
A conjoined Verb Phrase
Conjoined main clauses.
A complex Verb Phrase with infinitival complement.
Provide examples and glosses of the following statement/question pairs.
The woman is here. Is the woman here?
The woman is not here. Is the woman not here?
The man is there. Who is there?
The boy’s dog chases cats. Whose dog chases cats?
The teacher saw her student. Whom did the teacher see?
The mother gave her child a hug. To whom did the mother give a hug?
The mother gave her child a hug. What did the mother give her child? They went to the store. Where did they go?
Part 2. Semantics.
Develop one part of the lexicon in detail. This should be a coherent semantic domain of things such as kinship terms, baking terminology, musical instruments, types of domestic animals, weaponry, kinds of friends, etc.
Describe as necessary and list 25 terms in your language in phonemic transcription and accompanying translations, with glosses as necessary. (25 points plus six for creativity and originality).