Preliminary Recommendations

Rel_order

The linear order information is supposed to be dealt with by external knowledge of the language (grammar) insofar as non lexically-driven order is concerned. However, some lexical items specially constrain the order, and this information has to be present within the lexical description. The constraints on surface linearity are handled at the frame level. As in GPSG, the inventory of slots (rewriting elements in GPSG) is kept separated from the linear precedence of slots or slot realisations. A frame provides a list of slots whose rank in the list is conventional (canonical or arbitrary). The numbering will not be affected by phenomena such as:

• Pronominalisation;
• Optional slots actually missing;
• Stylistic inversions.

Adam donna une pomme à Eve

Adam gave an apple to Eve `Adam gave an apple to Eve'

Adam lui donna une pomme (Cliticisation)

Adam to her gave an apple `Adam gave her an apple'

A Eve Adam donna une pomme (Stylistic inversion)

To Eve Adam gave an apple `It was to Eve that Adam gave an apple'

Adam donna une pomme (Missing optional complement)

Adam gave an apple `Adam gave an apple'

Constraints on linear precedence are formalised at the level of the frame.