selectional feature/restriction/rule

A term in GENERATIVE GRAMMAR for a type of CONTEXTUAL FEATURE, i.e. a SYNTACTIC feature which specifies the conditions relating to where in a DEEP STRUCTURE a LEXICAL ITEM can occur. Selectional features specify the restrictions on the permitted combinations of lexical items within a given GRAMMATICAL context. These restrictions are stated with reference to the relevant INHERENT features in an adjacent or nearby COMPLEX SYMBOL (within the same structural unit, i.e. they must be CLAUSE-MATES). For example, a VERB which requires an ANIMATE SUBJECT NOUN PHRASE (cf. *the stone slept) would have the restriction stated as part of its feature specification, e.g. as [+[+Animate]]. In GOVERNMENT-BINDING THEORY, category selection (c-selection) and semantic selection (s-selection) are distinguished. C-selection refers to the category required in a certain environment (e.g. the sister CONSTITUENT of the verb depend must be a PREPOSITIONAL phrase); s-selection is forced by the semantics of the governing verb (e.g. John ate the ocean violates the s-selectional requirements of eat).