X-bar theory

E67050

component of generative grammar syntactic theory theoretical framework

X-bar theory is a framework in generative syntax that models the hierarchical structure of phrases using a uniform, layered projection of heads, intermediates, and maximal phrases.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Observed surface forms (1)

Surface form	Occurrences
ternary-branching X-bar theory	1

Statements (49)

Predicate	Object
instanceOf	component of generative grammar ⓘ syntactic theory ⓘ theoretical framework ⓘ
aimsTo	capture cross-categorial generalizations about phrase structure ⓘ reduce redundancy in phrase structure rules ⓘ
appliesTo	adjective phrase ⓘ clause ⓘ noun phrase ⓘ prepositional phrase ⓘ verb phrase ⓘ
assumes	head ⓘ intermediate projection ⓘ maximal projection ⓘ
claims	all phrasal categories share the same structural schema ⓘ
contrastsWith	flat phrase structure analyses ⓘ
coreIdea	all phrases project from a lexical head ⓘ phrases are built in layers of projection ⓘ phrases have a uniform hierarchical structure ⓘ
developedIn	1970s ⓘ
field	generative syntax ⓘ linguistics ⓘ
formalizedIn	bar-level notation ⓘ
hasVariant	binary-branching X-bar theory ⓘ X-bar theory self-linksurface differs ⓘ surface form: ternary-branching X-bar theory
influenced	Government and Binding Theory ⓘ surface form: Government and Binding theory Minimalist Program ⓘ Principles and Parameters Theory ⓘ surface form: Principles and Parameters theory cartographic approaches to syntax ⓘ lexical-functional grammar adaptations of phrase structure ⓘ
influencedBy	phrase structure grammar ⓘ Standard Theory of generative grammar ⓘ surface form: transformational-generative grammar
introducesConcept	adjunct ⓘ complement ⓘ specifier ⓘ
models	hierarchical phrase structure ⓘ
proposedBy	Noam Chomsky ⓘ
relatedConcept	head parameter ⓘ projection principle ⓘ universal grammar ⓘ
relatesAdjunctTo	recursive modifier position ⓘ
relatesComplementTo	sister of head ⓘ
relatesSpecifierTo	maximal projection edge position ⓘ
studiedIn	advanced generative syntax courses ⓘ introductory syntax textbooks ⓘ
usedIn	Government and Binding era syntax ⓘ early Minimalist analyses ⓘ
usesNotation	X0 for head ⓘ XP for maximal projection ⓘ X′ for intermediate projection ⓘ

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Lectures on Government and Binding → coreConcept → X-bar theory ⓘ

X-bar theory → hasVariant → X-bar theory self-linksurface differs ⓘ

this entity surface form: ternary-branching X-bar theory

Government and Binding Theory → influencedBy → X-bar theory ⓘ

Government and Binding Theory → mainConcept → X-bar theory ⓘ