Analyzing Syntax & Semantics Textbook: A Self-Instructional Approach for Teachers and Clinicians

CHAPTER 6 Language Analysis I and Review

54 CHAPTER 6 Language Analysis Iand Review Objectives • Give a syntactic description of basic sentences of the five different patterns, identifying the constituents of each sentence • Identify the following noun phrase modulations and elaborations in sentences: a. Regular plurals b. Irregular plurals c. Determiner types d. Possessive determiners, including possessive nouns e. Noun adjunct modifiers f. Adjective modifiers • Identify the following verb phrase modulations in basic sentences: a. Regular and irregular past b. Regular and irregular 3rd person c. Auxiliary type (be, have, modal) d. Uncontracted copula e. Verb aspect (progressive or perfect) f. Particles g. Prepositions • Determine the frequency of occurrence of the basic sentence types, noun and verb phrase modulations, and NP elaborations in a given sample • Give a semantic description of basic sentences in a sample • Give a semantic description of sentences containing more than a single proposition because of embedded noun adjuncts, possessives, or adjectives • Determine the frequency of occurrence of the following semantic cases in a given sample: a. Noun cases b. Verb cases c. Modifier cases d. Adverbial cases LANGUAGE ANALYSIS I AND REVIEW 55 Review: Units 1·5 • Identify listed words as nouns, adjectives, adverbs, or prepositions • Identify the regular inflectional morphemes of English • Identify the semantic features of nouns in given sentences • Identify, by type, determiners in given noun phrases • Identify specific modal, be, and have auxiliaries and/or list designated auxiliaries • Write verb phrases for given phrase structure rules • Identify the types of verbs in verb phrases as intransitive, transitive, or linking • Identify direct objects, indirect objects, and predicate nominatives in sentences • Analyze and identify the pattern of basic sentences • Complete a syntactic description of basic sentences • Write descriptions of the semantic relationships expressed in given sentences The first five chapters concentrated on constituents in sentences and basic sentences in the language. Basic sentences are sentences without the complexities of negatives, questions, imperatives, personal or other pronouns, contractions, shifted elements, etc., and without clauses that would serve to conjoin or embed one sentence into another. This means that basic sentences ar'2 simple active declarative positive sentences. It also means that they are single proposition sentences, conveying one unit of information. The pattern of normal language development is such that children do not learn all the basic phrase structure rules for noun phrases, verb phrases, or the basic sentences prior to using more complex language. They do, however, learn the semantic relationships that are found in the basic sentences, as well as the syntax for expressing such meanings in communication with others. The learning of the complexities in the language begins relatively early and it continues throughout the elementary-school years. Even after this, the individual continues to develop language competence so as to communicate more effectively with others. A child who is delayed in language development or who experiences difficulty with language will need a special language program. First, however, the level of development and the specific difficulties the individual is experiencing must be determined. Therefore, teachers and clinicians who work with language-delayed children and youth must be able to assess language and develop individualized programs to further language development. One of the most effective ways to assess language is to obtain a language sample and then analyze it syntactically, semantically, and pragmatically. 56 LANGUAGE ANALYSIS I AND REVIEW A syntactic analysis, or description of the language, will specify information on the noun phrases, the verb phrases, and the kinds of sentences that the individual uses. It will specify the complexity of the noun or verb phrase as to the determiners or auxiliaries used, as well as the regular and irregular inflections. Additional complexities, including the transformations used, will also be specified. A semantic analysis will describe the relationships expressed in sentences, specifying occurrences of the varying noun, verb, modifier, and adverbial cases. A pragmatic analysis, or analysis of communicative competence, will describe the various functions for which language is used (requesting, commanding, getting or giving information, etc.) as well as how the individual performs in conversation (initiating, pursuing, or terminating it), including the devices used in conversation. Following is an example of some sentences that could be found in a language sample from a young child. This is a purely hypothetical sample; it is not representative of all of the kinds of utterances that would be found in a sample of language when a child is at a simple sentence level. The sample was contrived so...