X-bar theory

Definition

X-bar theory is a generative theory of language conceived by Noam A. Chomsky. It is a theory about the internal structure of syntactic constituents which was originally intended to place constraints on the power of phrase structure rules. X-bar theory captures the insight that all phrases share some essential structural properties. Its main tenet is that all phrase structure (hence the X) can be reduced to recursive specifier-head configurations.

Example

The structures in (i) have in common that the head (noun, verb, adjective, or preposition) has an element to its right, which can be construed as its complement.

(i)  a lookV [for you]
     b the searchN [for you]
     c angryA [with you]
     d onP [with you]

These structural properties are conventionally represented as in (ii).

 (ii)            X''
 	       / \
               /   \
 	specifier  X'
                   / \
                  /   \
 		X   complement
 

In (ii), X is called the head of the phrase. X' and X'' are called projections of X. Typographically, these projections are marked by one or more primes (X' and X''), called bars. Thus, X' is pronounced X-bar; X'', X-double-bar etc.. The head is called the zero projection (also written as X⁰). The topnode X'' (or XP) is called the maximal projection of X. All other projections between the head and the maximal projection are called intermediate projections. The sister(s) of X are called the complements of the head), and the sister(s) of X' is/are the specifier(s) (of the phrase). The structure in (ii) embodies the following assumptions about the internal structure of constituents:

- Each phrase XP has one unique, structurally obligatory
element: the head X0 of the phrase.
- There is one maximal projection, or X-max, corresponding
to the phrasal node (XP). There is no strong consensus about
whether the X-max node always has two bars.
- All other elements within the XP besides the head are
structurally optional, their presence being determined by
principles of  licensing (  theta-theory,  case theory).
They can appear both on the left and on the right hand side
of the head.
- The intermediate projection X' between the head and the
maximal projection can be iterated.
- In case of  adjunction, the maximal projection XP can
also be iterated.
- Except for the possibilities of iteration, projections
must obey condition (iii):

(iii)	Xn  ->  Xn-1

This condition excludes the possibility of endless projection loops, i.e. phrases like the one in (iv):

 (iv)		X''
                / \
                   \
 		   X'
                    |
 		   X''
                    |
 		   X0
                    |
  		   X''
 

The value of X ranges over at least the categories N, A, V, P, the so-called lexical categories (see lexical category). These categories can be characterized as follows in terms of the features [±N] (substantive) and [±V] (predicative):

(v) a	[+N,+V]	=	A
    b	[+N,-V]	=	N
    c	[-N,+V]	=	V
    d	[-N,-V]	=	P

This notation allows crosscategorical reference to sets of categories. EXAMPLE: the two categories that can appear with an NP complement in English, Verbs and Prepositions, can now be referred to with the single feature [-N]. Thus, it becomes possible to characterize natural classes of syntactic categories. The X-bar system can be extended to clausal structures. Functional categories like I ( INFL) and C ( COMP) are also considered to be values of X. In this way, S is reinterpreted as a projection of I(NFL); S' is reinterpreted as a projection of C(OMP). Analogously, the functional category Determiner (D) can be incorporated into the X-bar system. In this way, NP is reinterpreted as being part of a DP.

Other languages

• German X-Bar-Theorie

Links

• Wikipedia article
• Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics

References

• Abney, S. 1987. The English Noun Phrase in its Sentential Aspect, Unpublished Diss MIT.
• Chomsky, N. 1994. Bare Phrase Structure, MIT Occasional Papers in Linguistics 5 (MITWPL),
• Chomsky, N. 1993. A Minimalist Program for Linguistic Theory, MIT occasional papers in linguistics, 1-67. Reprinted in: Chomsky (1995).
• Chomsky, N. 1986b. Barriers, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.
• Chomsky, N. 1986a. Knowledge of language: its nature, origin and use, Praeger, New York.
• Chomsky, Noam A. 1970. Remarks on nominalization. In: Jacobs, Roderick & Rosenbaum, P. (eds.) Reading in English Transformational Grammar, 184-221. Waltham, MA.
• Jackendoff, Ray 1977. X-bar syntax: A study of phrase structure. (Linguistic Inquiry Monograph 2.) Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

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