exocentric (adj.)

A term used in GRAMMATICAL analysis as part of a two-way classification of SYNTACTIC CONSTRUCTIONS using DISTRIBUTIONAL criteria: it refers to a group of syntactically related WORDS where none of the words is FUNCTIONALLY equivalent to the group as a whole (i.e. there is no definable ‘centre’ or HEAD inside the group); it is opposed to ENDOCENTRIC. The English basic SENTENCE structure of SUBJECT + PREDICATE displays exocentricity, by this definition (a ‘PREDICATIVE exocentric construction’), as neither part can substitute for the sentence structure as a whole, e.g. the man fell cannot be replaced by either the man or by fell alone. Other types include ‘DIRECTIVE constructions’, such as PREPOSITION + NOUN PHRASE sequences (e.g. on the table), where the ADVERBIAL function of the whole is not equivalent to any of its parts; VERB + OBJECT sequences (e.g. kick the ball); and ‘CONNECTIVE constructions’, where a connector ELEMENT is followed by an ATTRIBUTIVE element (e.g. seemed angry).