Difference between revisions of "Zero element"

From Glottopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(minor correction)
m (minor improvement)
 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
  
 
==Example==
 
==Example==
[[File:zero-element.jpg|300px|thumb|left|A fragment of English lexotactics, showing three examples of the zero element. Diagram by [[User:PaulSank|JPS]] from Lamb 1966.]]
+
[[File:zero-element.jpg|300px|thumb|left|A fragment of English lexotactics, showing four examples of the zero element. Diagram by [[User:PaulSank|JPS]] based on Lamb 1966.]]
 +
In the diagram, four examples of the zero element occur.
 +
*The leftmost zero element, below a downward [[OR node]], indicates that instead of "always" or "often", there may be a null output, i.e., nothing.
 +
*The next zero element shows that there could be "have-en" or nothing. In other words, the 'have-en' is optional.
 +
*The next zero element, above the downward [[AND node]], shows the (optional) third of three possible outputs: (1) be-ing-go-to followed by have-en; (2) be-ing-go-to followed by nothing; (3) nothing at all.
 +
*The rightmost zero element shows three possibilities: be-ing, be-able-to, or nothing.
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==

Latest revision as of 17:37, 12 February 2018

The zero element in relational network notation is represented by a small circle at the end of a line. Impulses moving to a zero element disappear; and an impulse may move from a zero element to the connecting line at any time.

Example

A fragment of English lexotactics, showing four examples of the zero element. Diagram by JPS based on Lamb 1966.

In the diagram, four examples of the zero element occur.

  • The leftmost zero element, below a downward OR node, indicates that instead of "always" or "often", there may be a null output, i.e., nothing.
  • The next zero element shows that there could be "have-en" or nothing. In other words, the 'have-en' is optional.
  • The next zero element, above the downward AND node, shows the (optional) third of three possible outputs: (1) be-ing-go-to followed by have-en; (2) be-ing-go-to followed by nothing; (3) nothing at all.
  • The rightmost zero element shows three possibilities: be-ing, be-able-to, or nothing.

Sources

  • Lamb, Sydney M. 1966. Outline of Stratificational Grammar. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press.