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The Yiwom Noun Phrase
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1.8.1.1
X-BAR THEORY
Based on appropriate analysis for the research work, X Bar is the theory to be adopted for comprehensive analysis.
Cook
(1988:94) explains that, X-bar Syntax reveals large number of
idiosyncratic ‘rule’ with general principles, it captures properties of
all phrases not just those of a certain types and it bases the syntax on
lexical categories that links with entries in the lexicon
Webelbum (1995:18) explains that, X-bar theory is the central module of the principle and parameter approach in syntax
The
X-bar theory brings out what is common in the structure of phrase. A
phrase in X-bar syntax always contain at least a head as well as others
constituents (cook 1988:94).
The head of projection is zero
projection (X). heads are terminal modes, they dominate words X-bar
theory distinguished two level of projection compliment combines with X
to form X†(X-X,);YP adjust combine with X projection (X-X, YP). The
specified combines with the topmost X’ to form the maximum projection
(XP Spec; X’)
Due to the fact that X-bar brings out, what is common
in the structure, X-bar theory will be the applicable to be used in the
analysis of Yiwom noun phrase
1.8.1.2 THETA (θ)THEORY
This
centers on assigning ‘thematic’ roles to sentential constituents. The
Greek letter ‘theta’ is a form of shortening for thematic
According
to Chomsky, thematic roles means “to what have been referred to as
semantic roles in the proceeding sections, roles such as agent, patient
(or theme), beneficiary e.t.c. These are assumed to be assigned to the
complements of lexical items as a lexical property.
Horrock, G
(1993;102) uses the entry for put as an example and explains that the NP
complement is assigned to the complement is assigned the role of
location. It is also assumed that the majority of verbs ‘θ mark’ the
subject position of sentences containing theme.
Thus, the subject NP
of a sentence containing put is assigned the agent role. A predicate
argument is denoted by any constituent assigned a θ-role by definition.
The
main principle of θ-theory is the θ-criterion which its requirements in
the unique assignment of each thematic role, this indicates that each
constituent denoting an argument is assigned just θ-role and each θ-role
is assigned for just one argument denoting constituent.
1.8.1.3 CASE-THEORY
This
deals with the principles of case assignment to constituents. Kirsten
(1991; 496) explains that case theory regulates the distribution of
phonetically realized NPs by assigning abstract case to them.
According
to Horrocks, G (1993103), the basic idea is that case is assigned under
government; the choice of case is determined by the governor in any
given example. Government is a traditional notion which involves the
delimitation of the sphere of influence of a particular category with
respect to adjacent categories.
A lexical head X may be said to
govern its sisters in X-bar, and certain lexical heads also have the
power to case-mark certain of their complements.
Thus, inflection
assigns nomative case to subject NP, verb assign accusative case to
object NP, while preposition assigns oblique case to its object.
One
of most important principles of case theory is that case filter, which
states that any s-structure that contains in NP with lexical content but
no case is ungrammatical.
Kirsten (1991; 407) formally represented case filter as
1.8.1.4 GOVERNMENT THEORY
This deals with the syntactic relationship between the governor i.e. the head, and the governed i.e. its complement
Government theory also defines the relationship in other sub-theories of government and binding theory.
With respects to government theory, α governs β if and only if:
1. α and β naturally c-command each other
2. α is a governor (e.g. noun, verb, preposition, adjective)
3. α governs β , then governs the specified of β
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