Syntax

The study of word order and constituency

"Syntax is concerned with the sentence as the unit of language, combining our description of events with our communicative inventions, and 'grounding' all this into the reality of our here and now. This composite whole is put together in the linear structure or the word order of the sentence."

Dirven, René & Marjolijn Verspoor (2004) Cognitive Explorative in Language and Linguistics, 96.

This module deals with sentence structure and inspects how words are combined into larger strings or chunks. This branch of linguistics that looks at sentence structure and how words are selected and arranged in order to form sentences is called syntax.

In a way, syntax resembles morphology in that morphology analyses language as well. While in morphology, the particular focus is on complex words, such as charming, better or revealed, in syntax special emphasis is placed on the description and analysis of larger strings or chunks of words (as in I absolutely loathe doing linguistics; he missed my introductory classes in cognitive linguistics, because he had been in prison; or a stupendous achievement).

In some linguistic textbooks, syntax has become synonymous with grammar.

Categories: Glossary

All modules of General Linguistics are divided into 3 areas: focus and content, exercises and tools & extras. Use the various short texts and attached exercises in each module in addition to your textbooks and make use of our extensive annotated reading lists and tools to improve your knowledge according to your needs. All subfields in the area focus and content are linked to several exercises, designed for the respective topics in three degrees of difficulty. You can either work through the texts and attached exercises in the given order or you can move on directly to the area exercises to improve your skills where necessary.