Syntactic function

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The generic term syntactic function (also: grammatical function or relation ) is used in linguistics to designate categories such as subject , object , predicate , adverbial and attribute . These categories are defined differently depending on the type of language or theoretical description approach. The basic syntactic functions of subject and object are particularly important for relational typology . The syntactic functions in nominative languages such as German should e.g. B. can not easily be applied to ergative languages .

Syntactic functions do not characterize a constituent in isolation, regardless of its syntactic environment and not only on the basis of its formal properties, such as case markings (e.g. nominative). Syntactic functions are functions that a "constituent has within its syntactic environment" and that lead to syntactic relations of the constituents within the syntactic environment. The reference point is the unit sentence (subject, object, etc.) or categories derived from it (attribute).

“Syntactic functions are relevant for congruence , word order and sentence meaning , among other things . Only words and phrases can have a syntactic function. "

Delimitation of constituents - syntactic functions

A distinction must be made between the terms syntactic function and constituent . The same constituent can perform different functions. The same function can be expressed by different constituents.

  • Example: The noun phrase "every day" can be used
as an accusative object ("I enjoy every day."),
as an adverbial ("I really enjoy breakfast every day.") or
as an attribute ("I really enjoy breakfast every day.")
  • Example: An accusative object can be expressed by
a noun phrase ("Arno promises to be paid on time."),
an infinite sentence ("Arno promises to pay on time.") or through
a subjunctional sentence ("Arno promises that he will pay on time.").

Syntactic functions at a glance

The basic syntactic functions in traditional German grammar are:

Some special cases can be added that do not have a separate grammatical form in German (but can have this in other languages) such as vocative or topical , and cases where it is difficult to differentiate between adverbials and non-adverbials, for example in the instrumental or the free dative .

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  • Hadumod Bußmann (Ed.) With the collaboration of Hartmut Lauffer: Lexikon der Sprachwissenschaft. 4th, revised and bibliographically supplemented edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-520-45204-7 , ( syntactic function ).

Web links

Wiktionary: syntactic function  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations
Wiktionary: grammatical function  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Hadumod Bußmann (Ed.): Lexicon of Linguistics. 3rd updated and expanded edition. Kröner, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-520-45203-0 ( syntactic function ).
  2. ^ Meibauer: Introduction to German linguistics. 2nd Edition. 2007, p. 153.
  3. ^ Meibauer: Introduction to German linguistics. 2nd Edition. 2007, p. 153.
  4. ↑ Glück, Helmut (ed.): Metzler Lexikon Sprach. 4th edition. Metzler, Stuttgart - Weimar 2010: Function. : "Z. B. a term like 'attributive clause' [is] a function of the categorical concept of 'attribute' and the structural concept of 'subordinate clause'. "
  5. ^ Meibauer: Introduction to German linguistics. 2nd Edition. 2007, p. 356.
  6. ^ Meibauer: Introduction to German linguistics. 2nd Edition. 2007, p. 153.
  7. ^ According to Meibauer: Introduction to German linguistics. 2nd Edition. 2007, p. 153.
  8. ^ According to Meibauer: Introduction to German linguistics. 2nd Edition. 2007, p. 153.
  9. ↑ Christa Dürscheid : Syntax. Basics and theories. 5th edition. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2010 (UTB, 3319), ISBN 978-3-8252-3319-8 , p. 44.
  10. ↑ Christa Dürscheid: Syntax. Basics and theories. 5th edition. Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen 2010 (UTB, 3319), ISBN 978-3-8252-3319-8 , pp. 41 f., 44 f.