LINB06: Fall 2024 # 1Matlab

Java Python LINB06: Fall 2024

Assignment # 1

1. Nootka (5 points)

Consider the following data from Nootka (data from Sapir and Swadesh 1939), a language spoken in British Columbia, Canada, and answer the questions that follow (GPS 6, Carnie, 2013, p. 63).

1) Mamu:k-ma          qu: ʔas-?i

    working-PRES      man-DEF

    ‘The man is working.’

2) Qu:ʔas-ma      mamu:k-ʔi

     man-PRES     working-DEF

     ‘The working one is a man.’

(The : mark indicates a long vowel. ʔ is a glottal stop. DEF= definite; PRES=present)

Question:

1. In sentence (1), is Qu:ʔas functioning as a verb or a noun?

2. In sentence (1), is Mamu:k functioning as a verb or a noun?

3. In sentence (2), is Qu:ʔas functioning as a verb or a noun?

4. In sentence (2), is Mamu:k functioning as a verb or a noun?

5. What criteria did you use to tell what is a noun in Nootka and what is a verb?

6. How does this data support the idea that there are no semantic criteria involved   

             in determining the part of speech?

2. Syntactic categories (15 points)

Consider the English sentences in (1).

(1) a. The students have finished the final project.

b. Every school offers online courses during the summer, but no one is aware ofdai 写LINB06: Fall 2024 Assignment # 1Matlab  it.

Instructions:

For each underlined word, provide 1) its syntactic category, 2) morphological evidence, if any, and 3) syntactic evidence.

- finished

Category:

Morphological evidence:

Syntactic Evidence:

- project

Category:

Morphological evidence:

Syntactic Evidence:

- online

Category:

Morphological evidence:

Syntactic Evidence:

- during

Category:

Morphological evidence:

Syntactic Evidence:

- of

Category:

Morphological evidence:

Syntactic Evidence: 

- it

Category:

Morphological evidence:

Syntactic Evidence:

2.   Identifying Phrases (20 points)

For each sentence, 1) list the phrases 2) identify the head of the phrase 3) state what the category of the head is.

Example: The manager   Head of phrase: manager       Category of head: Noun

a. Expressions can tell us a lot about the ways our language has developed over centuries.

b. Language, as the living thing it is, constantly evolves. 

3.    Constituency Tests (4 points)

Apply the constituency tests to determine which of the bracketed sequences in the following sentences form. constituents.

a. Linguists often focus on [documenting endangered languages] to ensure they are preserved for future generations.  

Stand-alone test:

Conclusion:

b. The [Institute] also ranks second in five subject areas.

Replacement Test:

Conclusion: 

4. Using PSR draw a syntactic tree for the following sentence: (6 pts)

This documentation can serve as a crucial resource for future language revival efforts