constituent

n. a linguistic unit that is a component of a larger and more complex unit. Although the term is used in the more traditional forms of sentence parsing, it is now mainly associated with the type of constituent analysis practiced in phrase-structure grammar and other forms of generative grammar. In this form of analysis a canonical English sentence, such as The man opened a window, is usually said to have the immediate constituents “noun phrase” (NP) and “verb phrase” (VP); the verb phrase can be further subdivided into the constituents “verb” (V) and “noun phrase,” and both noun phrases into “determiner” (det) and “noun” (N).

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Psychology term of the day

November 17th 2024

ghost sickness

a culture-bound syndrome found in Native American communities and attributed to ghosts or sometimes witchcraft. Symptoms include recurring nightmares, weakness, loss of appetite, fear, anxiety, hallucinations, confusion, and a sense of suffocation.