3.2. The Word-Group Theory

I.   Oral Check-up on the Terms: endocentric and exocentric groups, notional, formative and functional phrases, syndetic or asyndetic manner of connection, simple, expanded and extended phrases, agreement, government, adjoining and enclosure, the adjunct (pre-posed adjuncts), the complement, appositional cognitive schemas of phrases, parataxis cognitive schemas of phrases II. Topics for Discussion: 1.   The Problem of Word Group definition. 2.   Types of word groups. 3.   Describe typical English word groups. III. Practical Assignment: 1)   Test Questions 3.1 (2) 2)    Transform NP and state the type of grammatical relations btw their elements: table legs                   river sand school child                   table lamp a devil of a man                an angel of a girl 3)   Analyze word groups highlighted in the text from the point of structural and cognitive approaches: A Lawyer's Question

A Lawyer's Question A (1) small town prosecuting attorney (2) called his first witness (3) to the stand in a trial – a (4) grandmotherly, elderly woman. (5) He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I (6) do know you Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy. And frankly, you've been (7) a big disappointment to me. You lie, you (8) cheat on your wife, you manipulate people and talk about them (9) behind their backs. You think you're a rising big shot when you haven't (10) the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, (11) I know you." The lawyer was stunned. Not knowing what else to do he (12) pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Williams, do you know (13) the defense attorney?" She again replied, "Why, yes I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. I (14) used to baby-sit him (15) for his parents. And he, too, has been a real disappointment to me. He's (16) lazy, bigoted, he has (17) a drinking problem. The man can't build (18) a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the shoddiest in the entire state. Yes, I know him." (19) At this point, the judge rapped the courtroom to silence and (20) called both counselors to the bench. (21) In a very quiet voice, he (22) said with menace, "If (23) either of you asks her if she knows me, you'll be in jail (24) for contempt (25) within 5 minutes!"