Generative and Transformational Grammar

In this paper we will see briefly Chomsky’s notions about generative grammar and its main components. Then, we will see an explanation about the difference between grammar and theory of language. 

Generative grammar can be defined as a set of rules which deals with sentences in a given language.There are different types of generative grammar, and one of them was developed by Chomsky around 1950. We can have further approach to this grammar by watching the video below:

Secondly, generative grammar is formed by the following 3 components: syntactic component, which it is related to the interpretation of a sentence; phonological component, which is given by the syntactic rules that are responsible of the phonetic forms of a sentence; semantic component, which allows the interpretation of a sentence. In the case of the syntactic component,  according to Chomsky (1965: 16) “it must specify, for each sentence, a deep structure that determines its semantic interpretation and a surface structure that determines its phonetic interpretation.”

Thirdly, grammar and theory of language are different. While grammar is in charge of providing sentences and allows the analysis of such sentences, a theory of language provides a language with a suitable grammar. 

ABSTRACT

In this post, we will see what a generative grammar is according to Chomsky, as well as one of the types of generative grammar: transformational grammar. Moreover, we will see a brief explanation about the components of a generative grammar, including the syntactic, phonological, and semantic component. Together with this we will find what their function in language is. Finally, a distinction between grammar and theory of language will be provided, based on Harman’s explanation.

Keywords: Chomsky, components, function, generative grammar, Harman, language, theory of language, transformational grammar.

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Chomsky's Theory on Universal Grammar and his Classification Of Grammars

Noam Chomsky stated in the 1960s that grammar is innate to people, since we all are born with a language instinct. Now, even if some people disagree with Chomsky’s theory, it has been proved recently that he was probably right.

There is an example illustrating this: human are born with the ability to walk, but if someone has never practiced how to walk, he or she will not be able to do so. The same happen to language, since someone who is not exposed to language will not talk. Thus, we can understand phrases that make no sense as well as those which are grammatical correct thanks to the so-called universal grammar.

Researchers carried out an experiment to prove Chomsky’s theory. In this experiment, volunteers listened to both grammatical and grammatically incorrect sentences in English and Mandarin Chinese. Besides, researches wanted to see what was going on in the volunteers’ brain when processing the information, and to do so they used magnetoencephalography (first image below) and electrocorticography (second image).

 magnetoencephalography

electrocorticography

Lately, according to the results they knew that brain activity was different whether people were listened to a sentence, a phrase, or a word list, meaning they could understand grammar without hints (such as intonation). Thus, the ability to understand phrases and sentences is undoubtedly in our brain thanks to its capacity of dealing with language. Data also proved that through the structures someone is provided with, he or she can build abstract, hierarchical constituent structures of linguistic information. Apart from that, it is still not clear if this is accomplished based on acoustic or rather statistical hints. But because people can understand grammar without any cues, there is evidence that grammar is inherent to our brain, just like Chomsky stated.

Now, regarding the classification of grammar, Chomsky distinguishes among 4 types:

• Recursively enumerable grammars (Type-0 grammars)

• Context-sensitive grammars (Type-1 grammars)

• Context-free grammars (Type-2 grammars) 

• Regular grammars (Type-3 grammars)

Firstly, recursively enumerable grammars is formed by all formal grammars and are useful in order to deal with the syntax of programming languages and natural languages. Secondly, context-sensitive grammars follow rules that work with the following characters: α A β → α γ β. Thirdly, context-free grammars follow rules such as A → γ or A → aBc and constitute the basis of the syntax of most programming languages. Finally, regular grammars follow not only the rule S → ε, but also regular expressions. (Strojny 2015)


If you want to have more detailed information and learn more about these experiments and their results, you can find more information by clicking on the following links:

• Noam Chomsky's Theory Of Universal Grammar
• Chomsky's Classification

And in case you are still curious about this topic, here you can find some essays with further information:

• Principles and Parameters Theory and Language Acquisition
• Chomsky Hierarchy

Noam Chomsky: philosopher, linguistic theorist and political activist.

Noam Chomsky is an intellectual who deals with many different topics in many different fields like philosophy, linguistic and politics.

He has developed many different theories in all of these fields that have became very relevant through the years for all the experts around the world,

The next abstract introduces an essay that provides a general idea about the main theories that Noam Chomsky has developed in the fields of politics, philosophy and linguistics.

ABSTRACT

The main object of this essay is to create a general idea about the figure of Noam Chomsky not only as a linguistic even though as philosopher, cognitive scientist, historian, logician, social critic and political activist. Based on that, this essay will deal with a general idea of the main theories that Noam Chomsky has developed through the years in the different areas of his knowledge. 

Key Words: Activism, Critic, Linguistic, Philosophy, Politic, Social, Theory,

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Chomsky's Universal Grammar

One of the main theories developed by Noam Chomsky is the Universal Grammar. It says that our capacity to properly use a language was born with us and that we use it by instinct. (Dovey 2015). So, The aim of this post is to provide an essay that illustrates this theory in the following way:

To begin with, it is explained a brief bibliography of the author in order to explain who is this man and his relevance in the intellectual world. Besides, the bibliography includes a summary of his life and his early academic career. Then, it is explained his theory on Universal Grammar developed in the 1960s with its main ideas. Moreover, due to the controversy that the theory created, the essay illustrates an study realized in order to unveil if Chomsky was right or not and the duality of its results.

ABSTRACT

This paper will deal with one of the most important theories developed by Noam Chomsky, the Universal Grammar Theory. Firstly, it will be presented a brief biography of the author in order to make a first approach to his life and studies. Then, it will be introduced a general definition for Chomsky’s Universal Grammar concept, so the reader can understand better what is this theory about. Finally, it will be included a biographical section, which will provide the academic material used to carry out this research.

KEYWORDS

Chomsky, controversy, grammar, investigation, language, linguistic, Noam, theory, universal.

Click Here to Read the Full Essay

Here there are some videos in which the author appears expanding his theory in the case that you want to know more about the Universal Grammar:

The Chomskyan Revolution

What is The Chomskyan Revolution? 

As we have seen during the different previous entries, Noam Chomsky is one of the most relevant figures of all times, and we do not talk only about linguistics. Chomsky has created huge controversy all over the world with multiple statements and diverse opinions.

Barman (2012: 114) points out that "Noam Chomsky has been called the intellectual ancestor of linguistic essentialism, which aims to identify the intrinsic properties of language per se."

Because of Noam Chomsky's multiple debates, he has been declared one of the most influential people of all times. Noam Chomsky has strong political, social and linguistic opinions and critics; so, every time he states and declares his own opinion on different subjects, he creates a huge controversy and revolution all over the world.

                                  

ABSTRACT 

Noam Chomsky is one of the most relevant linguists from the 20th century until nowadays. In this essay, I will discuss Chomsky’s contributions such as linguistics and political debates with all the controversy he has created. First of all, I will discuss his ideas about Transformational Generative Grammar and Universal Grammar, both based on mentalist philosophy, which led to a linguistic revolution. Secondly, I will write about Chomsky’s controversy in politics. Chomsky has also declared his own political opinions. He is a declared liberal and he positions his ideals on America’s political left with controversial declarations, activism and public speaking. There is no doubt that Chomsky is one of the most relevant people that we have ever seen with his own opinions because, as he has always said, the world is a complex place, and there is no easy or simple answer or solution for every problem and question that we have to face.

Keywords: activism, Chomsky, controversy, debate, generative, grammar, human, language, linguistics, mentalist, opinion, political, philosophy, universal, world.

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How to create a revolution? 

In this video, Noam Chomsky himself explains the different steps that we should take into account in order to start a revolution:

Presentation about Chomsky

Here you will find a presentation that resumes the main information about Noam Chomsky that we are dealing with in this blog. It was realized by the administrators of the blog and it contains a general introduction that allows a first approach to the topic.

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Conceptual Map

This conceptual map shows some keywords related with Noam Chomsky. These keywords may be helpful in order to get a general view of the content of this blog.

Chomsky's Form

With this form, you can test your general knowledge about Noam Chomsky by answering several question regarding all kind of topics about his life and studies:

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Introduction to Noam Chomsky

Noam Chomsky, apart from being a philosopher, activist, and historian, among other things, has revolutionized linguistics all over the world. He is one of the most relevant and polemic researchers of all times. He has written important essays on politics, economy, and linguistics while, at the same time, he has contributed to the theory of innate ideas and other philosophical believes by publishing diverse essays.

Noam Chomsky is considered the most relevant linguist of all times. Thus, Chomsky is the father of the most important linguistic theories nowadays: Transformational Generative Grammar, Universal Grammar, and the Minimalist Program. These studies and linguistic developments focus on the knowledge of language, as well as on its nature and use since its very beginnings. He also deals with the connection of language and mind, and with his reflections on language. Besides, with The Managua lectures, he has also studied language and problems of knowledge.