Classification of Parts of Speech - лекция 4-5 теорграмматика

1. Lecture 3

2. Theme: “Morphology. Parts of speech”

1. Definition of a part of speech
2. Different principles of parts of
speech classification.
3.Notional parts of speech
4. Functional parts of speech
5. Noun

3. Literature:

1. Блох, М.Я. Теоретическая грамматика
английского языка / М.Я. Блох. М.: Высшая школа, 2003. – С. 7-19.
2. Ильиш, Б.А. Строй современного
английского языка: учебник / Б.А.
Ильиш. – Ленинград: Просвещение, 1971.
– C. 5-18.
3. Мороховская, Э.Я. Практикум по
теоретической грамматике / Э.Я.
Мороховская. - Ленинград:
Просвещение, 1973. – С. 7-31.

4. 1. Definition of a part of speech

What is a part of speech?
How can we classify words?

5. H.Sweet definition

• Parts of speech are certain classes
of words having certain formal
characteristics in common, which
distinguish them from the members
of the other classes.
H.Sweet,
A new English Grammar,
Logical and Historical
Part 1,Oxford, 1892,
pp. 35-38

6. Part of speech

• the lexico-grammatical classes of
words correlating with each other
in the general system of language
on the basis of their grammatically
relevant properties (B.A.Ilyish).

7. Types of grammatically relevant properties (B.A.Ilyish)

semantic
formal
functional

8. Remark:

• These three semantic properties
serve the criteria for parts of
speech classification

9. Semantic properties

• The semantic criterion refers to the
generalized semantic properties
common to the whole class of words,
e.g.: the generalized (or, categorial)
meaning
• of nouns is “thingness”,
• of verbs process,
• of adjectives substantive property,
quality
• of adverbs non-substantive,verbal
property.
Numerals? Pronouns?

10. Semantic properties

• The semantic criterion refers to the
generalized semantic properties
common to the whole class of words,
e.g.: the generalized (or, categorial)
meaning
• of nouns is “thingness”,
• of verbs process,
• of adjectives substantive property,
quality
• of adverbs non-substantive,verbal
property.
Numerals? Quantity and order
Pronouns? Substitute for nouns

11. Formal property

• The formal criterion embraces the formal
features (word-building and word-changing
affixes, categories) that are characteristic
for a particular part of speech, e.g.: the noun is
characterized by a specific set of word-building
affixes, cf.: property, bitterness, worker, etc.,
and is changed according to the categories of
number, case and article determination: boyboys, boy – boy’s, boy – the boy – a boy, etc.

12. Formal property (Combinability)

• Combinability – the ability to be
combined with other parts of speech;
for example, verbs can be modified
by adverbs, while nouns cannot.
• EX: to glance quickly

13. Functional properties

• The functional criterion is based on the
functions that the words of a particular
class fulfill in the sentence, e.g.:
• the most characteristic functions of the
noun are those of a subject and an object;
the only function of the finite form of the
verb is that of a predicate; the adjective
functions in most contexts as an attribute;
the adverb as an adverbial modifier.

14.

Subject
Predicate (predicative)
Attribute
Object
Adverbial modifier

15. Functions in the sentence

16. Types of grammatically relevant properties (summary)

Semantic
(grammatical
meaning)
Formal
(grammatical form+
combinability)
Functional
(function in
a sentence)

17. 2. Different principles of parts of speech classification.

Homogeneous
(monodifferential)
• based on one
criterion
Heterogeneous
(polydifferential)
• based on many
criteria

18. Approaches to classification

• The traditional classification of parts
of speech is polydifferential
(heterogeneous); it is based on the
combination of all the three criteria
mentioned above: ‘meaning – form –
function’.

19. Traditional classification:

• The employment of the three criteria
combined, in present-day mainstream
linguistics, was developed mainly by
V. V. Vinogradov, L. V. Scherba,
A. I. Smirnitsky, B. A. Ilyish and
others.

20. Traditionally parts of speech are subdivided into:

• Notional parts
of speech
• Functional
parts of
speech

21. Notional words – 6!:

• Notional words, which traditionally
include nouns, verbs, adjectives,
adverbs, pronouns and numerals, have
complete nominative meanings, are in
most cases changeable and fulfill
self-dependent syntactic functions in
the sentence.

22. Functional words:

• Functional words, which include
conjunctions, prepositions, articles,
interjections, particles, modal words,
etc. have incomplete nominative
value, are unchangeable and fulfill
mediatory, constructional syntactic
functions.

23. Controversial problems of parts of speech classification:

• H.Sweet: Full words/empty words: The
earth is round. The & is are words in form
only.
• E.Nida: No distinctions between nouns and
prepositions: words “boy, fish, against and
with” are signals for various objects.
• Ch. Fries: 4 parts of speech and 15 groups
of function words: sometimes the
demarcation line passes between parts of
speech, sometimes it is drawn inside a part
of speech.

24. Homogeneous approach (monodifferential)

The doubts on classification will
disappear if the approach will base on
1 criterion only!

25. Ancient Greek grammar Words:

• changeable
words
• unchangeable
words

26. Henry Sweet divided all the words into:

• “declinables”
• “indeclinables”

27. Identify the part of speech and its function.

1. Henry loves sandy beaches.
2. Who is counting ABC?
3. Go and take some!

28. Thank you!