Syntax

Syntax

Looking for the most interesting discipline in linguistics? You've come to the right place.   Syntax is all about the structure of sentences, and what determines which words go where. Studying syntax allows us to define descriptive rules about how language works. It is the aim of syntacticians to find out the factors involved in grammar, more specifically in regards to certain languages. Ultimately it is believed that there are such rules that apply to all languages, which is why it is important to study as many different languages as possible.    The main characteristics taken into account in syntax are morphology (the structure of language and the sounds it uses) and the principles which govern sentence construction. Syntax also notes the differences between written and spoken language, as spontaneous speech will often ignore standard structural rules. By studying syntax you will learn about different parts of speech, including just how many types of verbs there are, and many mind-boggling structural phenomena such as why the location of contextual information determines who a pronoun is really talking about.    Explore this section to find out the breadth of syntactical study, important historical figures, and even have a go at creating your own sentence tree. Do you think you have what it takes to name the right phrase? Or perhaps you'd rather fill out our fiendish crossword with terms you can find out around this section of the site?