Glossary[±V]: one of the three basic binary features on which all categories can be
defined. With the help of these features we can explain why we have the
categories that we do and also describe how these categories are related.
With the help of the three binary features we can predict what kinds of
categories are possible in human language, we can give an exclusive list
of them. Since we want to define verbs and nouns as polar opposites the
abstract binary features [±N] and [±V] were introduced, though obviously
they do not mean noun and verb and are used to define other categories
besides nouns and verbs. The categories with [±V] feature are the following:
a. thematic: verbs, prepositions; b. functional: inflections,
degree adverbs, aspectual auxiliaries; unspecified for the [F] value:
aspectual auxiliaries, post-determiners.
voice: a distinction between active voice and passive voice. It applies only to
sentences containing transitive verbs.
voiced sound: a sound produced with the vibration of the vocal cords, e.g. d, z, g.
voiceless/unvoiced sound: a sound produced without the vibration of the vocal cords,
e.g. t, s, k.
VP adverb: an adverb which modifies the meaning of the verb, e.g. always,
already, never.
VP-Internal Subject Hypothesis: the hypothesis according to which subjects are not
base-generated in the specifier position of IP but move there from
within the vP or VP where they are selected and theta-marked by the
verb (see also canonical subject position). The movement of the DP is
case-motivated.
VP: see Verb Phrase
vP (pronounced: little vP): a phrase headed by a light verb taking a VP
complement hosting agent or experiencer arguments in its
specifier position. For a list of elements that can appear in vp see light
verb.
vP-shell: vP-projection(s) on VP: if the event structure of the verb is complex,
the structural representation of the verb will be complex, too. The number
of vP-shells surrounding the VP core depends on the theta-role of the
arguments. If there is an agent or an experiencer selected by the verb
one vP-projection is needed. If both an agent and an experiencer are present
there are two vPs, the lower hosting the experiencer.
whether: though in certain cases whether is interchangeable with if, which is a
complementiser, whether cannot be regarded as such since it does not
impose selectional restrictions on the finiteness of the clause following it.
Both I wonder whether to invite him and I wonder whether I should invite
him are grammatical. Rather, whether is assumed to occupy the specifier
position of CP similarly to wh-elements. An argument in favour of this
approach is that whether also introduces only interrogative clauses.
wh-movement: the movement of a wh-element to the beginning of the clause.
This movement is obligatory in English.
wh-question: a question containing a wh-element. It cannot be answered with yes or
no.