The important thing to see here is that syntactic heads (verbs and nouns) map into conceptual functions (e.g.LIKE,
WRITE, BRIDE), and that syntactic subjects and complements map into arguments. Thus the double lines that mark
heads correspond in the two structures, as do the single lines that mark arguments.
Glancing back at issues fro mChapter 3, recall that it is a mystery how purely associationist neural nets, actual or
modeled, can instantiate the satisfaction of open variables of the sort in these structures. Furthermore, each index in
these structures needs to be a binding site in working memory—a point where multiple structures are maintained in
registration. As remarked insection 3.5, theproliferationofsuch variablesineventhesimpleststructures such as these
also remains a challenge for theories of neural realization.
12.1.2 Modication
Not all cases of phrasal combination involve variable satisfaction. The prototypical example is modification of a noun
by an adjective. Inred car, for instance,cardoes not have a variable positionfor color. Rather, the propertyREDsimply
supplements the other characteristics of the categoryCAR. Chapter 1, following my