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@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Aarne Ranta
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%!Encoding:utf8
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%!Encoding:utf8
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%!style(html): ../revealpopup.css
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%!style(html): revealpopup.css
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%!postproc(tex) : "#BECE" "begin{center}"
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%!postproc(tex) : "#BECE" "begin{center}"
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%!postproc(html) : "#BECE" "<center>"
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%!postproc(html) : "#BECE" "<center>"
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@@ -17,26 +17,26 @@ Also available for [Chinese gf-chinese.html] [Finnish gf-finnish.html] [French g
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#HR
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#HR
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**Digital grammars** are grammars usable by computers, so that they can mechanically perform
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**Digital grammars** are grammars usable by computers, so that they can mechanically perform
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tasks like interpreting, producing, and translating languages. The **GF Resource Grammar Library**
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tasks like interpreting, producing, and translating languages. The **GF Resource Grammar Library**
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(RGL) is a set of digital grammars which, at the time of writing, covers 28 languages. These grammars
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(RGL) is a set of digital grammars which, at the time of writing, covers 28 languages. These grammars
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are written in GF, **Grammatical Framework**, which is a programming language designed for
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are written in GF, **Grammatical Framework**, which is a programming language designed for
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writing digital grammars.
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writing digital grammars.
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The grammars in the RGL have been written by linguists, computer scientists, and
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The grammars in the RGL have been written by linguists, computer scientists, and
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programmers who know the languages thoroughly, both in practice and in theory. Almost 50 persons from
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programmers who know the languages thoroughly, both in practice and in theory. Almost 50 persons from
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around the world have contributed to this work, and ongoing projects are expected to give us many new
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around the world have contributed to this work, and ongoing projects are expected to give us many new
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languages soon.
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languages soon.
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The leading idea of the RGL is that different languages share large parts of their grammars, despite
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The leading idea of the RGL is that different languages share large parts of their grammars, despite
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their observed differences. One important thing that is shared are the **categories**, that is, the
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their observed differences. One important thing that is shared are the **categories**, that is, the
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types of words and expressions. For instance, every language in RGL has a category of **nouns**, but
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types of words and expressions. For instance, every language in RGL has a category of **nouns**, but
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what exactly a noun is varies from language to language. Thus English nouns have four forms
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what exactly a noun is varies from language to language. Thus English nouns have four forms
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(singular and plural, nominative and genitive, as in //house, houses, house's, houses'//)
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(singular and plural, nominative and genitive, as in //house, houses, house's, houses'//)
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whereas French nouns have just two forms (singular and plural //maison, maisons//, "house"), but they also
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whereas French nouns have just two forms (singular and plural //maison, maisons//, "house"), but they also
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have a piece of information that English nouns don't have, namely gender (masculine and feminine).
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have a piece of information that English nouns don't have, namely gender (masculine and feminine).
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Chinese nouns have just one form (房子 //fangzi// "house"), which is used for both singular and plural, but in
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Chinese nouns have just one form (房子 //fangzi// "house"), which is used for both singular and plural, but in
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addition, a little bit like the French gender, they have a **classifier** (间 //jian// for the word
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addition, a little bit like the French gender, they have a **classifier** (间 //jian// for the word
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"house"). German nouns have 8 forms and a gender, Finnish nouns have 26 forms, and so on.
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"house"). German nouns have 8 forms and a gender, Finnish nouns have 26 forms, and so on.
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This document provides a tour of the digital grammars in the RGL. It is intended to serve at least three kinds of readers.
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This document provides a tour of the digital grammars in the RGL. It is intended to serve at least three kinds of readers.
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@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ The document has two main parts: **Words** and **Syntax**. Both parts have a **g
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explaining the RGL structure from a multilingual perspective, followed by a **specific section**,
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explaining the RGL structure from a multilingual perspective, followed by a **specific section**,
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going into the details of the grammar in a particular language. The general sections are the same
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going into the details of the grammar in a particular language. The general sections are the same
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in all languages. The specific sections differ in length and detail, depending on the complexity of
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in all languages. The specific sections differ in length and detail, depending on the complexity of
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the language and on what aspects are particularly interesting or problematic for the language
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the language and on what aspects are particularly interesting or problematic for the language
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in question.
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in question.
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@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ of their morphological aspects. Details of morphology for each language is given
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++Main parts of speech: content words++
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++Main parts of speech: content words++
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The most important categories of words are given in the following table. More precisely, we will give the
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The most important categories of words are given in the following table. More precisely, we will give the
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categories of **content words**, which, so so say, describe things and events in the real world.
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categories of **content words**, which, so so say, describe things and events in the real world.
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Content words are distinguished from **structural words**, whose purpose is to combine words into syntactic
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Content words are distinguished from **structural words**, whose purpose is to combine words into syntactic
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structures. Each category of content words may have thousands of words, and new words can be introduced
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structures. Each category of content words may have thousands of words, and new words can be introduced
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continuously; therefore, these categories are also called **open categories**. In contrast, structural
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continuously; therefore, these categories are also called **open categories**. In contrast, structural
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@@ -92,10 +92,10 @@ give us a short and precise way to state grammatical rules.
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In addition to the names and examples, the table lists the **inflectional features** and **inherent features**
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In addition to the names and examples, the table lists the **inflectional features** and **inherent features**
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typical of each category. Inflectional features are those that create different forms of words. For instance,
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typical of each category. Inflectional features are those that create different forms of words. For instance,
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French nouns have forms for number (singular and plural) - or, as one often says,
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French nouns have forms for number (singular and plural) - or, as one often says,
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French nouns are //inflected for number//. In contrast to number, the gender does not give rise to different forms
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French nouns are //inflected for number//. In contrast to number, the gender does not give rise to different forms
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of French nouns: //maison// ("house") //is// feminine, inherently, and there is no masculine form of //maison//.
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of French nouns: //maison// ("house") //is// feminine, inherently, and there is no masculine form of //maison//.
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(Of course, there are some nouns that do have masculine and feminine forms, such as //étudiant, étudiante//
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(Of course, there are some nouns that do have masculine and feminine forms, such as //étudiant, étudiante//
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"male/female student", but this only applies to a minority of French nouns and shouldn't be taken as an
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"male/female student", but this only applies to a minority of French nouns and shouldn't be taken as an
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indication of an inflectional gender.)
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indication of an inflectional gender.)
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@@ -103,11 +103,11 @@ indication of an inflectional gender.)
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++Syntactic implications++
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++Syntactic implications++
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The features given in the table are rough indications for what one can expect in different languages. Thus,
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The features given in the table are rough indications for what one can expect in different languages. Thus,
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for instance, some languages have no gender at all, and hence their nouns and adjectives won't have
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for instance, some languages have no gender at all, and hence their nouns and adjectives won't have
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genders either. But the table is a rather good generalization from the 28 language of the RGL: we can
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genders either. But the table is a rather good generalization from the 28 language of the RGL: we can
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safely say that, if a language //does// have gender, then nouns have an inherent gender and adjectives have
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safely say that, if a language //does// have gender, then nouns have an inherent gender and adjectives have
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a variable gender. This is not a coincidence but has to do with **syntax**, that is, the combination of words
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a variable gender. This is not a coincidence but has to do with **syntax**, that is, the combination of words
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into complex expressions. Thus, for instance, nouns are combined with adjectives that modify them, so that
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into complex expressions. Thus, for instance, nouns are combined with adjectives that modify them, so that
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#BECE
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#BECE
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//blue// + //house// = //blue house//
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//blue// + //house// = //blue house//
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@@ -140,8 +140,8 @@ words depend on each other in combinations.
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//express logical relations, ontologies, etc//
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//express logical relations, ontologies, etc//
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The last column in the category table shows the **semantic type** corresponding to each category. This type gives an indication
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The last column in the category table shows the **semantic type** corresponding to each category. This type gives an indication
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of the kind of meaning that the word of each type has. Starting from the simplest meanings, ``e`` is the type of **entities** that serve as meanings of proper names. Nouns, adjectives, and verbs have the type ``e -> t``, which means
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of the kind of meaning that the word of each type has. Starting from the simplest meanings, ``e`` is the type of **entities** that serve as meanings of proper names. Nouns, adjectives, and verbs have the type ``e -> t``, which means
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**functions from entities to propositions** (where the symbol ``t`` for propositions comes from **truth values**). Such a function can be **applied** to an entity to yield a proposition.
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**functions from entities to propositions** (where the symbol ``t`` for propositions comes from **truth values**). Such a function can be **applied** to an entity to yield a proposition.
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The type ``t`` itself is reserved for sentences, which are formed in syntax by putting words together.
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The type ``t`` itself is reserved for sentences, which are formed in syntax by putting words together.
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For example, the sentence //Paris is large//
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For example, the sentence //Paris is large//
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involves an application of the adjective //large// to //Paris//, and yields the value true if //large// applies to //Paris//.
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involves an application of the adjective //large// to //Paris//, and yields the value true if //large// applies to //Paris//.
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@@ -153,15 +153,15 @@ refers to an entity but an ``N`` expresses a property of an entity. Of course, t
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all distinctions of categories: nouns, verbs, and adjectives have the same semantic type, but different syntactic properties.
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all distinctions of categories: nouns, verbs, and adjectives have the same semantic type, but different syntactic properties.
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We will occasionally use the **type synonyms** ``n``, ``a``, and ``v`` instead of ``e -> t``, to give a clearer structure to some semantic types. But from the semantic point of view, all these types are one and the same.
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We will occasionally use the **type synonyms** ``n``, ``a``, and ``v`` instead of ``e -> t``, to give a clearer structure to some semantic types. But from the semantic point of view, all these types are one and the same.
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We should notice that the semantic types given here are quite rough and do not give a full picture of the nuances. For instance, many adjectives work in a different way than straightforwardly yielding truth values from entities. An example is
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We should notice that the semantic types given here are quite rough and do not give a full picture of the nuances. For instance, many adjectives work in a different way than straightforwardly yielding truth values from entities. An example is
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the adjective //large//. Being a //large mouse// is different (in terms of absolute size) from being //a large elephant//,
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the adjective //large//. Being a //large mouse// is different (in terms of absolute size) from being //a large elephant//,
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and a logical type for expressing this is ``n -> e -> t``, with an argument ``n`` indicating the domain of comparison (such as
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and a logical type for expressing this is ``n -> e -> t``, with an argument ``n`` indicating the domain of comparison (such as
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mice or elephants).
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mice or elephants).
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Another problem is that defining
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Another problem is that defining
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verbs as ``e -> t`` suggests that all verbs apply to all kinds of entities. But there are combinations of entities and
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verbs as ``e -> t`` suggests that all verbs apply to all kinds of entities. But there are combinations of entities and
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verbs that make no sense semantically. For example, the verb //sleep// is only meaningful for animate entities, and
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verbs that make no sense semantically. For example, the verb //sleep// is only meaningful for animate entities, and
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a sentence like //this book sleeps//, if not senseless, requires some kind of a metaphorical interpretation
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a sentence like //this book sleeps//, if not senseless, requires some kind of a metaphorical interpretation
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of //sleep//.
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of //sleep//.
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The following table summarizes the most important semantic types that will be used. We use more primitive types than most traditional approaches, which reduce everything to ``e`` and ``t``. For instance, we can't see any way to reduce the top-level category ``p`` of phrases to these types. From a type-theoretical perspective, ``p`` is the category of **judgements**, whereas
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The following table summarizes the most important semantic types that will be used. We use more primitive types than most traditional approaches, which reduce everything to ``e`` and ``t``. For instance, we can't see any way to reduce the top-level category ``p`` of phrases to these types. From a type-theoretical perspective, ``p`` is the category of **judgements**, whereas
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@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@ The following table summarizes the most important semantic types that will be us
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| ``t`` | proposition ("truth value") | //Paris is large// | (primitive)
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| ``t`` | proposition ("truth value") | //Paris is large// | (primitive)
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| ``q`` | question | //is Paris large// | (primitive)
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| ``q`` | question | //is Paris large// | (primitive)
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| ``p`` | top-level phrase | //Paris is large.// | (primitive)
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| ``p`` | top-level phrase | //Paris is large.// | (primitive)
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| ``n`` | substantive ("noun") | //man// | ``e -> t``
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| ``n`` | substantive ("noun") | //man// | ``e -> t``
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| ``a`` | quality ("adjective") | //large// | ``e -> t``
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| ``a`` | quality ("adjective") | //large// | ``e -> t``
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| ``v`` | action ("verb") | //sleep// | ``e -> t``
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| ``v`` | action ("verb") | //sleep// | ``e -> t``
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| ``np`` | quantifier ("noun phase") | //every man// | ``(e -> t) -> t``
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| ``np`` | quantifier ("noun phase") | //every man// | ``(e -> t) -> t``
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@@ -187,8 +187,8 @@ In addition to the features needed for inflection and agreement, the lexicon mus
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combinations are possible with each word. For most nouns and adjective, this is simple: a noun can be modified
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combinations are possible with each word. For most nouns and adjective, this is simple: a noun can be modified
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by an adjective, for instance, and there is a uniform syntax rule for this. However, there are some nouns and adjectives
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by an adjective, for instance, and there is a uniform syntax rule for this. However, there are some nouns and adjectives
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that are trickier, because they don't correspond to simple things but to **relations**. For instance, //brother// is
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that are trickier, because they don't correspond to simple things but to **relations**. For instance, //brother// is
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a **relational noun**, since its primary usage is not alone bur in phrases like //brother of this man//.
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a **relational noun**, since its primary usage is not alone bur in phrases like //brother of this man//.
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In the same way, //similar//
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In the same way, //similar//
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is a **relational adjective**, since its primary use is in phrases like //similar to this//. The additional
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is a **relational adjective**, since its primary use is in phrases like //similar to this//. The additional
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term attached to these words is called its **complement**; thus //this// is the complement in //similar to this//.
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term attached to these words is called its **complement**; thus //this// is the complement in //similar to this//.
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The categories of words that take complements are called **subcategories**. They are morphologically similar to
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The categories of words that take complements are called **subcategories**. They are morphologically similar to
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@@ -202,11 +202,11 @@ argument places in semantic types. Thus the number of places
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is one plus the number of complements, so that the first place is reserved for the subject of a sentence
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is one plus the number of complements, so that the first place is reserved for the subject of a sentence
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and the rest of the places for the complements.
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and the rest of the places for the complements.
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The following table shows the categories of relational nouns and adjectives in the RGL. The inflectional and
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The following table shows the categories of relational nouns and adjectives in the RGL. The inflectional and
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inherent features are the same as for one-place nouns and adjectives, but for each complement, the lexicon
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inherent features are the same as for one-place nouns and adjectives, but for each complement, the lexicon
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must tell what preposition, if any, is needed to attach that complement. For instance, the preposition for
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must tell what preposition, if any, is needed to attach that complement. For instance, the preposition for
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//similar// is //to//, whereas the preposition for //different// is //from//. In languages with richer case
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//similar// is //to//, whereas the preposition for //different// is //from//. In languages with richer case
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systems (such as German, Latin, and Finnish), the complement information also determines the case (genitive,
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systems (such as German, Latin, and Finnish), the complement information also determines the case (genitive,
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dative, ablative, and so on).
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dative, ablative, and so on).
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@@ -220,15 +220,15 @@ dative, ablative, and so on).
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Verbs show a particularly rich variation in subcategorization. The most familiar distinction is the one between
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Verbs show a particularly rich variation in subcategorization. The most familiar distinction is the one between
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**intransitive** and **transitive** verbs: intransitive verbs need only a **subject** (like //she// in //she sleeps//),
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**intransitive** and **transitive** verbs: intransitive verbs need only a **subject** (like //she// in //she sleeps//),
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whereas transitive verbs also need an **object** (like //him// in //she loves him//). Our category ``V`` obviously includes
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whereas transitive verbs also need an **object** (like //him// in //she loves him//). Our category ``V`` obviously includes
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intransitive verbs. But there is no category for transitive verbs in the RGL. Instead, we have a more general category of
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intransitive verbs. But there is no category for transitive verbs in the RGL. Instead, we have a more general category of
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**two-place verbs**, which includes transitive verbs but also verbs that need a preposition (such as //at// in
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**two-place verbs**, which includes transitive verbs but also verbs that need a preposition (such as //at// in
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//she looks at him//). Just like for relational nouns and adjectives, the complement of a two-place verb has variations
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//she looks at him//). Just like for relational nouns and adjectives, the complement of a two-place verb has variations
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in cases and prepositions.
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in cases and prepositions.
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The following table shows the subcategories of verbs in the RGL. The list is long but it may still be incomplete. For
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The following table shows the subcategories of verbs in the RGL. The list is long but it may still be incomplete. For
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example, there are no four-place verbs (//she paid him one million pounds for the house//). Such constructions can
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example, there are no four-place verbs (//she paid him one million pounds for the house//). Such constructions can
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be built, as we will see later, by using for instance a ``V3`` verb with an additional adverb. But we can envisage
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be built, as we will see later, by using for instance a ``V3`` verb with an additional adverb. But we can envisage
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future additions of more subcategories for verbs.
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future additions of more subcategories for verbs.
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@@ -263,9 +263,9 @@ Semantically, the type ``e -> e -> v -> t`` works for both of them. However, if
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them, then the two kinds of verbs apply their argument verb to different arguments:
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them, then the two kinds of verbs apply their argument verb to different arguments:
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- ``promise subj obj verb`` is about the proposition ``verb subj``
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- ``promise subj obj verb`` is about the proposition ``verb subj``
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- ``force subj obj verb`` is about the proposition ``verb obj``
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- ``force subj obj verb`` is about the proposition ``verb obj``
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Hence it would make sense to distinguish between subject-control and object-control ``V2V``'s on the category level rather
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Hence it would make sense to distinguish between subject-control and object-control ``V2V``'s on the category level rather
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than with a complement feature. The agreement behaviour would them become simpler to describe, and, what is more important,
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than with a complement feature. The agreement behaviour would them become simpler to describe, and, what is more important,
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the semantic behaviour would be predictable from the category alone.
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the semantic behaviour would be predictable from the category alone.
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@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ table, //ask// appears in both ``VQ`` and ``V2Q``. Now, these uses are related,
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the same as to //ask someone something//. But in some other cases, the meaning can be completely different. For instance,
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the same as to //ask someone something//. But in some other cases, the meaning can be completely different. For instance,
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//walk// in ``V2`` (as in //I walk the dog//) is different from //walk// in ``V`` (as in //the dog walks//). The ``V2`` is in
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//walk// in ``V2`` (as in //I walk the dog//) is different from //walk// in ``V`` (as in //the dog walks//). The ``V2`` is in
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this case **causative** with respect to the ``V``: I cause the walking of the dog. From the multilingual perspective, it is
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this case **causative** with respect to the ``V``: I cause the walking of the dog. From the multilingual perspective, it is
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just a coincidence that English uses the same verb for the intransitive and the causative meanings. In many other languages,
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just a coincidence that English uses the same verb for the intransitive and the causative meanings. In many other languages,
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different words would be used. And so would English do for many other verbs: one cannot say //I eat the dog// to express that I make the dog eat; the verb //feed// is used instead.
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different words would be used. And so would English do for many other verbs: one cannot say //I eat the dog// to express that I make the dog eat; the verb //feed// is used instead.
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@@ -287,13 +287,13 @@ We have defined the categories of content along three criteria:
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- **semantic**: words belonging to the same category must have the same semantic type
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- **semantic**: words belonging to the same category must have the same semantic type
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Thus morphological criteria are, in most languages, enough to tell apart ``N``, ``A``, ``V``, and ``Adv``.
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Thus morphological criteria are, in most languages, enough to tell apart ``N``, ``A``, ``V``, and ``Adv``.
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Syntactic criteria are appealed to when distinguishing the subcategories of nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
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Syntactic criteria are appealed to when distinguishing the subcategories of nouns, adjectives, and verbs.
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Semantic criteria are often obeyed as well, although we have noticed that finer distinctions could be useful
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Semantic criteria are often obeyed as well, although we have noticed that finer distinctions could be useful
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for subject vs. object control verbs and for different kinds of adjectives.
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for subject vs. object control verbs and for different kinds of adjectives.
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For structural words, following the same criteria leads to a high number of categories, higher than in many traditional
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For structural words, following the same criteria leads to a high number of categories, higher than in many traditional
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grammars. Thus, for instance the category of **pronouns** is divided to at least,
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grammars. Thus, for instance the category of **pronouns** is divided to at least,
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personal pronouns (//he//), determiners (//this//),
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personal pronouns (//he//), determiners (//this//),
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interrogative pronouns (//who//), and relative pronouns (//that//). There is no way to see all these classes as subcategories
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interrogative pronouns (//who//), and relative pronouns (//that//). There is no way to see all these classes as subcategories
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of a uniform class of pronouns, as we did with the verb subcategories: for verbs, there was a uniform
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of a uniform class of pronouns, as we did with the verb subcategories: for verbs, there was a uniform
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@@ -317,21 +317,21 @@ i.e. on how the structural words are actually used for building structures.
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|| GF name | text name | example | inflectional features | inherent features | semantics ||
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|| GF name | text name | example | inflectional features | inherent features | semantics ||
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| ``Det`` | determiner | //every// | gender, case | number, definiteness | ``det`` = ``n -> (e -> t) -> t``
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| ``Det`` | determiner | //every// | gender, case | number, definiteness | ``det`` = ``n -> (e -> t) -> t``
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| ``Quant`` | quantifier | //this// | gender, number, case | definiteness | ``num -> det``
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| ``Quant`` | quantifier | //this// | gender, number, case | definiteness | ``num -> det``
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| ``Predet`` | predeterminer | //only// | gender, number, case | (none) | ``np -> np``
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| ``Predet`` | predeterminer | //only// | gender, number, case | (none) | ``np -> np``
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| ``Pron`` | personal pronoun | //he// | case, possessives | gender, number, person | ``e``
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| ``Pron`` | personal pronoun | //he// | case, possessives | gender, number, person | ``e``
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The most important thing to notice is the distinction between ``Det`` and ``Quant``. The latter covers determiners that have
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The most important thing to notice is the distinction between ``Det`` and ``Quant``. The latter covers determiners that have
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"two forms", for both numbers, such as //this-these// and //that-those//. The former covers determiners with a fixed number,
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"two forms", for both numbers, such as //this-these// and //that-those//. The former covers determiners with a fixed number,
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such as //every// (singular).
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such as //every// (singular).
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**Building number expressions**
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**Building number expressions**
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|| GF name | text name | example | inflectional features | inherent features | semantics ||
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|| GF name | text name | example | inflectional features | inherent features | semantics ||
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| ``Num`` | number expression | //five// | gender, case | number | ``num`` = ``det``
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| ``Num`` | number expression | //five// | gender, case | number | ``num`` = ``det``
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| ``Card`` | cardinal number | //five// | gender, case | number | ``num`` = ``det``
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| ``Card`` | cardinal number | //five// | gender, case | number | ``num`` = ``det``
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| ``Ord`` | ordinal number | //fifth// | gender, number, case | (none) | ``e -> t``
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| ``Ord`` | ordinal number | //fifth// | gender, number, case | (none) | ``e -> t``
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| ``Numeral`` | verbal numeral | //five// | gender, case, card/ord | number | ``num``
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| ``Numeral`` | verbal numeral | //five// | gender, case, card/ord | number | ``num``
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| ``Digits`` | numeral in digits | //511// | card/ord | number | ``num``
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| ``Digits`` | numeral in digits | //511// | card/ord | number | ``num``
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@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ such as //every// (singular).
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**Building interrogatives and relatives**
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**Building interrogatives and relatives**
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|| GF name | text name | example | inflectional features | inherent features | semantics ||
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|| GF name | text name | example | inflectional features | inherent features | semantics ||
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| ``IP`` | interrogative pronoun | //who// | case | gender, number | ``(e -> t) -> q``
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| ``IP`` | interrogative pronoun | //who// | case | gender, number | ``(e -> t) -> q``
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| ``IDet`` | interrogative determiner | //how many// | gender, case | number | ``n -> (e -> t) -> q``
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| ``IDet`` | interrogative determiner | //how many// | gender, case | number | ``n -> (e -> t) -> q``
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| ``IQuant`` | interrogative quantifier | //which// | gender, number, case | (none) | ``num -> n -> (e -> t) -> q``
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| ``IQuant`` | interrogative quantifier | //which// | gender, number, case | (none) | ``num -> n -> (e -> t) -> q``
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| ``IAdv`` | interrogative adverb | //why// | (none) | (none) | ``t -> q``
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| ``IAdv`` | interrogative adverb | //why// | (none) | (none) | ``t -> q``
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@@ -372,10 +372,8 @@ The interrogative pronoun structure replicates a part of the determiner structur
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One more thing to be taken into account is that many of the "structural word categories" also admit of complex
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One more thing to be taken into account is that many of the "structural word categories" also admit of complex
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expressions and not only words. That is, the RGL has not only words in these categories but also syntactic
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expressions and not only words. That is, the RGL has not only words in these categories but also syntactic
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rules for building more expressions. Thus for instance //these five// is a ``Det`` built from the ``Quant`` //this//
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rules for building more expressions. Thus for instance //these five// is a ``Det`` built from the ``Quant`` //this//
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and the ``Num`` //five//. It is also common that a "structural word" in a particular language is realized as
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and the ``Num`` //five//. It is also common that a "structural word" in a particular language is realized as
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a feature of the other words it combines with, rather than as a word of its own. For instance,
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a feature of the other words it combines with, rather than as a word of its own. For instance,
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the determiner //the// in Swedish just selects an inflectional form of the noun that it is applied to:
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the determiner //the// in Swedish just selects an inflectional form of the noun that it is applied to:
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"the" + //bil// = //bilen// ("the car").
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"the" + //bil// = //bilen// ("the car").
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