Endocentric Construction
Endocentric Construction
An endocentric construction is a construction that contains:
- a head, which is the single obligatory element in the construction (except in coordinate constructions, which have multiple heads)
- one or more optional elements subordinate to the head
The optional elements can, in the proper context, be omitted without loss of grammaticality. The head is a syntactically adequate substitution for the whole construction.
(English)
- In the following sentence, the noun phrase wet paint is an endocentric construction. The word paint is the obligatory head and may stand alone in its position in the clause. The word wet is an optional subordinate element.
- There is wet paint on the bench.
- The coordinate noun phrase dogs and ponies is an endocentric construction. Both nouns are heads of the noun phrase.
Page/s: 60
Source: Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech, and Svartvik 1985
Quirk, Randolph, S. Greenbaum, G. Leech, and J. Svartvik. 1985.A comprehensive grammar of the English language. London: Longman.
Page/s: 66
Source: Pei and Gaynor 1954
Pei, Mario A., and Frank Gaynor. 1954.A dictionary of linguistics. New York: Philosophical Library.
Page/s: 76
Source: Hartmann and Stork 1972
Hartmann, R.R.K., and F.C. Stork. 1972.Dictionary of language and linguistics. London: Applied Science.
Page/s: 109
Source: Crystal 1985
Crystal, David. 1985.A dictionary of linguistics and phonetics. 2nd edition. New York: Basil Blackwell.
Broader Terms
- BT↑ Construction
Related terms
- RT⇆ Head
- RT⇆ Modifier
- RT⇆ Noun
- RT⇆ Noun Phrase
