2012/10/15 by Timothy Osborne, Michael T. Putnam, Thomas Groß · 172 citations
Computer Science · Arts and Humanities · #Natural Language Processing Techniques #Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation #Lexicography and Language Studies #Ellipsis (linguistics) #Computer science #Plural #Dependency (UML) #Syntax #Natural language processing #Grammar #Linguistics #Artificial intelligence #Philosophy
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9612.2012.00172.x
published in Syntax 15(4), 354-396 (Wiley)
openalex publication_date 2012/10/15 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/22
Abstract. This paper introduces a novel unit of syntactic analysis, the catena (Latin for ‘chain’; plural catenae ). The catena is defined in a dependency‐based grammar as a word or a combination of words that is continuous with respect to dominance. According to this definition, any dependency tree or any subtree (complete or partial) of a dependency tree qualifies as a catena. The paper demonstrates that idioms are stored as catenae and that the elided material of ellipsis mechanisms (e.g., answer fragments, gapping, stripping, VP ellipsis, pseudogapping, sluicing, and comparative deletion) is a catena. Constituents are always catenae, but many catenae are not constituents. Based on the flexibility and utility of the catena concept, the claim is put forth and defended that the catena is the fundamental unit of syntax, not the constituent.