Partial Word Order Syntax of Urdu/Sindhi and Linear Specification Language

Abstract

Like most of the South-Asian languages Urdu and Sindhi are partial word order languages. Conventional syntax representation models like Context Free Grammars are not capable enough to cope with partial word order syntax. Linear Specification Language (LSL) is an extension of Context-Free Grammars (CFGs) which allows arbitrary partial order (free word order) on the right hand side of grammar rule. Partial word order in LSL is handled by using different types of linear precedence (LP) constraints. LSL by using LP constraints is capable enough to represent the syntax of partial word order sentence. Issues related to represent Urdu/Sindhi language sentences with their constituent parts in LSL are discussed. LSL versions for different types of Urdu and Sindhi sentences are presented.