Syntactic StructuresNoam Chomsky's first book on syntactic structures is one of the first serious attempts on the part of a linguist to construct within the tradition of scientific theory-construction a comprehensive theory of language which may be understood in the same sense that a chemical, biological theory is understood by experts in those fields. It is not a mere reorganization of the data into a new kind of library catalogue, nor another specualtive philosophy about the nature of man and language, but rather a rigorus explication of our intuitions about our language in terms of an overt axiom system, the theorems derivable from it, explicit results which may be compared with new data and other intuitions, all based plainly on an overt theory of the internal structure of languages; and it may well provide an opportunity for the application of explicity measures of simplicity to decide preference of one form over another form of grammar. |
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I hugely admire his work. However, the way he views language is not palpable to me. Isolating a language in great detail, in my humble opinion, would lead us to a mass of linguistic confusion. In sum, it is unputdownable in a way.
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My absolute intellectual-political idol. I loved Syntatic Structure since I first read it back in the 1970s. It is a marvel of clarity and depth, combined with insight into the really important issue, which in this case is the very essence of humankind. It is hard to decide who deserves more admiration -- the revolutionary linguist-mathematician Chomsky or the Chomsky the revolutionary social critic.
Contents
Introduction | 11 |
The Independence of Grammar | 13 |
An Elementary Linguistic Theory | 18 |
Phrase Structure | 26 |
Limitations of Phrase Structure Description | 34 |
On the Goals of Linguistic Theory | 49 |
Some Transformations in English | 61 |
The Explanatory Power of Linguistic Theory | 85 |
Syntax and Semantics | 92 |
Summary | 106 |
Notations and Terminology | 109 |
Examples of English Phrase Structure and Transformational Rules | 111 |
Bibliography | 115 |
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Common terms and phrases
actually ambiguity analysis appear apply approach arrive attempt auxiliary carry certain Chomsky clear complex conception concerned consider considerations constituent construct contain convert corpus corresponding defined derived describe determine devices discovery discussion distinct elements English evaluation example fact finite formal fundamental give given grammar grammatical sentences Hence interesting John kernel sentences language leads linguistic level linguistic structure linguistic theory logical meaning method models morphemes morphophonemic natural notion noun phrase object obligatory occur operates pair particular passive past phonemic phrase structure possible problem procedure produce properties proposed question reason reference relation representation represented result rules semantic sense sequence similar simple simplest single suggest Suppose Syntactic Structures terminal string transformational underlying understand utterances verb
Bibliographic information
| Title | Syntactic Structures De Gruyter Reference Global Mouton classic |
| Author | Noam Chomsky |
| Contributor | David W. Lightfoot |
| Edition | illustrated, revised |
| Publisher | Walter de Gruyter, 2002 |
| ISBN | 3110172798, 9783110172799 |
| Length | 117 pages |
| Subjects | › › Language Arts & Disciplines / Linguistics / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |