What is branching

endipatterson_at_yahoo.com
Date: 12/11/04


Date: 11 Dec 2004 08:45:55 -0800

I have been trying to find a good definition of "branching" but I
haven't been able to find one. Which is why I'm asking here.

I think I'm beginning to form an opinion from all the uses I've seen. I
think I understand branching from a noun. Adjectives and relative
clauses can go before or after nouns left of the noun is left
branching, right of it is right branching, right? Trouble is I can't
seem to find out if branching is limited to nouns.

A lot of definitions of branching use the term "head" can a head be a
verb too? Adverbs can come before or after verbs.

Does branching also refer to the order of subject verb object, does it
refer to modal verbs and verb patterns? Modal verbs you will note
overlay their meaning on the verb that follows in English (some would
argue the whole sentence.)Is this branching?

There are prepositions and postpositions, is this branching?

There is so much talk of branching out there that there really ought to
be a good definition.



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  • Re: What is branching
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