Distribution

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'''Distribution''' (or word order) refers to the study of the order of the syntactic constituents of a language.
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'''Distribution''' or '''precedence''' refers to the study of the order of the syntactic constituents of a language. In the UNL<sup>arium</sup> framework, the distribution is informed in the grammar, if general, or in the dictionary, in case of exceptions or categories that do not follow a regular distributional pattern (such as English adverbs). Distribution is not informed in UNL.
  
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== Natural Language ==
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== Values ==
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In the UNLarium framework, the distribution must be informed through [[s-rule]]s, except in case of exceptional (non-default) cases, to be registered in the dictionary by the following values:
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In the UNL<sup>arium</sup> framework, distribution may assume the following values:
  
 
{{#tree:id=DIS|openlevels=0|root=Distribution (DIS)|
 
{{#tree:id=DIS|openlevels=0|root=Distribution (DIS)|
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*position (PSN)
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*front (FRT): at the beginning of the clause
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**premodifier (BEF): coming before the modified
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*before (BEF): at the left side, before a blank space
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**postmodifier (AFT): coming after the modified
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*after (AFT): at the right side, after a blank space
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**middle position (MID): coming in the middle of the modified
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*immediately before (IBEF): at the left side, without any blank space
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**free distribution (FRE): coming in any position described in the grammar
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*immediately after (IAFT): at the right side, without any blank space
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*proximity (PXM)
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*middle (MID): coming in the middle
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**immediate (IMM): coming right before or after the modified
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*free (FRE): coming either before or after
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**distant (FAR): coming before or after the specifiers and the complements of the modified
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*end (END): at the end of the clause
 
}}
 
}}
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== Dictionary ==
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Distribution is to be included in the dictionary in two cases:
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*Exceptions to the general distribution rules, such as in some free order adjectives:
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**"it is the only solution '''possible'''" or "it is the only '''possible''' solution"
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*Categories with irregular distribution, such as adverbs:
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**'''Usually''' I get up early.
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**I '''often''' get headaches.
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**She speaks English '''well'''.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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*very = BEF (In English, the intensifier "very" is a premodifier): ''He is very rich'' (<strike>''He is rich very''</strike>)
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*the
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*well = AFT (In English, the adverb of manner "well" is a postmodifier): ''He speaks well'' (<strike>''He well speaks''</strike>)
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**No distribution to be informed in the dictionary because, in English, articles are always premodifiers. The distribution of articles must be informed in the grammar.
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*yesterday = FRE (In English, the adverb of time "yesterday" may come either before or after the modified): ''Now I go'' or ''I go now''.
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*beautiful
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**No distribution to be informed in the dictionary because, in English, adjectives are normally premodifiers. The distribution of adjectives must be informed in the grammar. Only exceptions must be informed in the dictionary.
 +
*very = BEF
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**In English, the distribution of adverbs is quite variable, and must be informed in the dictionary. The intensifier "very" is a premodifier: ''He is very rich'' (<strike>''He is rich very''</strike>)
 +
*well = AFT
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**In English, the distribution of adverbs is quite variable, and must be informed in the dictionary. The adverb of manner "well" is a postmodifier: ''He speaks well'' (<strike>''He well speaks''</strike>)
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*yesterday = FRE
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**In English, the distribution of adverbs is quite variable, and must be informed in the dictionary. The adverb of time "yesterday" may come either before or after the modified: ''Now I go'' or ''I go now''.
  
 
=== Observations ===
 
=== Observations ===
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;The distribution of words must be informed in the dictionary only if variable.
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;Middle position is used only for words to be inserted inside others (i.e., between the prefix and the root, or the root and the suffix).
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:The field "distribution" must be filled in only if different words of the same category may occur in different positions
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:Adverbs coming between auxiliaries and verbs must be defined as premodifiers.
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::Adverbs, in English, may be premodifiers or postmodifiers. Therefore, distribution of adverbs must be informed in the dictionary.
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::Articles, in English, are always premodifiers. Therefore, distribution of articles must not be informed in the dictionary.
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;The distribution of words must be informed in the dictionary only if not the default one.
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:The grammar brings the normal (default) distribution of the words in a language. Only exceptions to the rule must be informed in the dictionary.
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::Adjectives, in English, are normally premodifiers. Therefore, distribution of premodifier adjectives (such as "beautiful") must not be informed in the dictionary. On the other hand, free order adjectives (such as "possible": "it is the only solution possible" or "it is the only possible solution") must be tagged, in the dictionary, with the corresponding feature (FRE).
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;Middle position should be used only for words to be inserted inside others (i.e., between the prefix and the root, or the root and the suffix).
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::Adverbs coming between auxiliaries and verbs must be defined as premodifiers.
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;Distribution values are not exclusive:
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:BEF&AFT means that the word may occur both as a premodifier or as postmodifier;
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:BEF&MID means that the word may occur both as a premodifier or as a middle modifier.
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;Order and position may be combined to express specific distributions:
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:BEF&IMM means that the word occurs right before the modified (as with English intensifiers)
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;Position must be informed only when required:
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::English intensifiers must come right before the intensified ("very well"), therefore BEF&IMM;
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::Adverbs of manner normally comes after the complements ("She read the letter slowly"), therefore "AFT&FAR";
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== UNL ==
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== Grammar ==
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Word order is not informed in UNL.
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In the grammar, distribution is defined through [[S-rule]]s in the following format:
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<SYNTACTIC ROLE>(+<DISTRIBUTION>);
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Where:<br />
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*<SYNTACTIC ROLE> is the [[Syntactic roles|syntactic role]] (VA, VC, VS, VH, etc) of the constituent in relation to the head; and
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*<DISTRIBUTION> is the position of the constituent in relation to the head. It may assume one of the distribution values indicated above ("FNT","BEF",">>",etc).
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=== Examples ===
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;VS(+BEF);
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:the specifier must be generated to the left of the verb
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;VC(+AFT);
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:the complement must be generated to the right of the verb
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=== Observations ===
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;Complex distribution
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:A single distribution rule may contain several distribution operations:
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:*VS(+BEF)VC(+AFT); (the specifier will be generated to the left and the complement to the right of the head)
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;Conditional distribution
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:Conditional distribution may be stated by defining the left side of the s-rule and coindexing it to the right side:
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:*VC(+AFT); (unconditional distribution: the complement will be always generated to the right of the verb);
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:*VC(PPR):=VC(+BEF); (conditional distribution: the complement will be generated to the left of the verb if a personal pronoun (PPR);
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;Use of "+"
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:As rules are conservative (i.e., features are preserved unless explicitly deleted), the use of "+" is actually optional:
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:*VC(AFT); is the same as VC(+AFT);
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;Reordering
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:Reordering can be done in three different ways:
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:*By [[L-rule]]s, if the process involves neighbour constituents and affects only the surface structure of the phrase;
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:*By attribute change (i.e., deleting and adding distribution features), such as in "VC(-AFT,+BEF);" (i.e.,delete the "after" attribute and add the "before" attribute), in case of neighbour constituents or neighbour projections
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:*By [[movement]], in case of more complex inversions and extraction of constituents
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;The symbol '''^''' is used for negation and to control infinite recursion:
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:*VC(^AFT):=VC(AFT); (assign the "after" attribute to the complement of the verb if it does not have it yet)

Latest revision as of 13:38, 20 May 2010

Distribution or precedence refers to the study of the order of the syntactic constituents of a language. In the UNLarium framework, the distribution is informed in the grammar, if general, or in the dictionary, in case of exceptions or categories that do not follow a regular distributional pattern (such as English adverbs). Distribution is not informed in UNL.

Contents

Values

In the UNLarium framework, distribution may assume the following values:

Dictionary

Distribution is to be included in the dictionary in two cases:

  • Exceptions to the general distribution rules, such as in some free order adjectives:
    • "it is the only solution possible" or "it is the only possible solution"
  • Categories with irregular distribution, such as adverbs:
    • Usually I get up early.
    • I often get headaches.
    • She speaks English well.

Examples

  • the
    • No distribution to be informed in the dictionary because, in English, articles are always premodifiers. The distribution of articles must be informed in the grammar.
  • beautiful
    • No distribution to be informed in the dictionary because, in English, adjectives are normally premodifiers. The distribution of adjectives must be informed in the grammar. Only exceptions must be informed in the dictionary.
  • very = BEF
    • In English, the distribution of adverbs is quite variable, and must be informed in the dictionary. The intensifier "very" is a premodifier: He is very rich (He is rich very)
  • well = AFT
    • In English, the distribution of adverbs is quite variable, and must be informed in the dictionary. The adverb of manner "well" is a postmodifier: He speaks well (He well speaks)
  • yesterday = FRE
    • In English, the distribution of adverbs is quite variable, and must be informed in the dictionary. The adverb of time "yesterday" may come either before or after the modified: Now I go or I go now.

Observations

Middle position is used only for words to be inserted inside others (i.e., between the prefix and the root, or the root and the suffix).
Adverbs coming between auxiliaries and verbs must be defined as premodifiers.

Grammar

In the grammar, distribution is defined through S-rules in the following format: 

<SYNTACTIC ROLE>(+<DISTRIBUTION>);

Where:

  • <SYNTACTIC ROLE> is the syntactic role (VA, VC, VS, VH, etc) of the constituent in relation to the head; and
  • <DISTRIBUTION> is the position of the constituent in relation to the head. It may assume one of the distribution values indicated above ("FNT","BEF",">>",etc).

Examples

VS(+BEF);
the specifier must be generated to the left of the verb
VC(+AFT);
the complement must be generated to the right of the verb

Observations

Complex distribution
A single distribution rule may contain several distribution operations:
  • VS(+BEF)VC(+AFT); (the specifier will be generated to the left and the complement to the right of the head)
Conditional distribution
Conditional distribution may be stated by defining the left side of the s-rule and coindexing it to the right side:
  • VC(+AFT); (unconditional distribution: the complement will be always generated to the right of the verb);
  • VC(PPR):=VC(+BEF); (conditional distribution: the complement will be generated to the left of the verb if a personal pronoun (PPR);
Use of "+"
As rules are conservative (i.e., features are preserved unless explicitly deleted), the use of "+" is actually optional:
  • VC(AFT); is the same as VC(+AFT);
Reordering
Reordering can be done in three different ways:
  • By L-rules, if the process involves neighbour constituents and affects only the surface structure of the phrase;
  • By attribute change (i.e., deleting and adding distribution features), such as in "VC(-AFT,+BEF);" (i.e.,delete the "after" attribute and add the "before" attribute), in case of neighbour constituents or neighbour projections
  • By movement, in case of more complex inversions and extraction of constituents
The symbol ^ is used for negation and to control infinite recursion
  • VC(^AFT):=VC(AFT); (assign the "after" attribute to the complement of the verb if it does not have it yet)
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