Introduction to Syntax Session 1

Syntactic Structure
• Ambiguities that are caused by the underlying structure of a
sentence are referred to as syntactic ambiguities.
Woman to shop assistent:
„Dürfte ich das blaue Kleid im Schaufenster probieren?“
May I the blue dress in-the shop window try
‚Can I try the blue dress in the shop window?‘
-- „Ja! Aber wir haben auch Umkleidekabinen!“
Yes but we have also fitting rooms
‚Yes, but we also have fitting rooms.‘
• Such ambiguities tell us a lot about the structure of sentences.
Syntax theory deals with these kinds of ambiguities.
27.05.2008 Some slides are adapted from material of A. Carnie 27