Theoretical grammar.

Пескова Наталья Анатольевна.

7.09.2010.

Lecture 1.

Блох. A course in theoretical grammar.

Ильиш. The structure of modern English.

Иванова. Теоретическая грамматика.

Худяков.

14 lectures, 13 seminars.

Grammar in the systemic conception of language.

1. Theoretical grammar & its object.

2. Development of grammar theory.

3. Language as a semiotic system.

4. Basic notions of structural linguistics.

1. Language & speech;

2. Sythagmatics & parpdygmathics;

3. Synchrony & diachrony.

Item 1.

The term grammar is of greek origin & it means the art of writing. Later the word got a wider sense & now it embraces the study of language in general. The practical grammar is to formulate grammar rules that help us use language. Theoretical – in fact it is to explain these rules. TG deals with L as a functional system. G includes morphology & syntax. Morphology studies the inner structure of words, their grammatical categories & parts of speech division, syntax deal with rules of combining rules into longer units. Linguistic units can go into 3 types of relations:

• between a language & an object in the world;

• between a unit & other units;

• between a unit & a person who uses it.

Item 2.

Evolution of grammar theory

1. classical grammar (ancient time 1840-1850)

2. historical-comparative grammar (1850 – beg. Of the 20^th c.)

3. structural linguistics(beg. Of the 20^th с – up to now)

4. generative-transformational grammar (since 50s)

5. semantic trends in grammar (since the 60s-70s)

6. textual grammar (since the 60s)

7. functional grammar (since the 70s-80s)

1. GR Theory goes back to ancient times & Aristotle is believed linguist. He was the 1^st to introduce the notions of subject & predicate & he initiated the 1^st classification of words into parts of speech. The classical period – accumulation of facts about language & these were 1^st disconnected attempts to describe it. It was useful, this approach was not devoid of limitation, the basic conception was wrong. They believed that GR is direct reflection of logic & thinking. These notions are connected, but not directly. The laws of thinking are universal, but grammar systems are different. Classical grammar treated Latin & Greek as model languages. Their structure was considered to be perfect, the closer some language to Latin – the more perfect it was considered to be.

2. In the 2^nd half of the 19^th – a new appeared. It was called so, because linguists compared genetically related languages & studied historical changes within them. It was the time of many discoverings, now this belongs to history of languages.now this approach is criticized for being atomistic.

3. At the beginning of 20^th century a new modern period started. The language was treated as a holistic system with its own laws & functions. The structure of language was in the center of attention, it was also called structural linguistics. Фортунатов, Бодуэн-де-Куртенэ.

Item 3.

Language is regarded as a system of elements that are called signs or units of language. These units have no value without each other, & they exist only in the system, but not in isolation. Language is a structural system. Structure means hierarchy.

The Language is of semiotic character, & its units are signs. Any sign has 2 sides: the plane of content & the plain of expression. The theory of linguistic signs belongs to Saussur, who described the basic features of the sign. He also comapare the system of language with other systems and he proved that the former is far more complicated than other systems. This phenomenon makes any language not only complicated, but at the same time economical & expressive. Language signs are characterized by the following specific features:

• replacement of language sign. LS does not lose its value in time. It can be replaced in time continuum.

• Reflexivity of a LS. It is the ability of the sign to investigate the system of language.

• Open-endedness of the sign. A) any LS is open to changes. B) it leads to open-endedness of the whole system of language.

• LS are arbitrary by nature. There are no direct relations between 2 sides (the planes).

• Predetermination of the sign by the system.

Before Saussur these notions were not differentiated, there are some specific qualities:

Language is a system of means of expression. It includes units of different levels. Language is hierarchical in structure. Language is the source that all speakers use in order to express what they need. It is one for all, so, it is social. Language exists in our mind as knowledge, so, it is ideal (abstract, not concrete).

Speech is individual. It is created by some definite speaker. It is material, because we can hear it, & structurally speech is organized like a chain, it’s linear by nature.

Sythagmatics & parpdygmathics

This antynomy is obviously related to the previous one. The sphere of application of these relations is different. Paradigmatic – within L system, whereas S ones are used in speech. Both types of these links can be found on all levels.

Paradigmatic relations are abstract associative relations, that can serve as a basis for all kinds of classification.

Relations between neighboring elements in speech are called syntagmatic.

On the morphemic level – bound morpheme.

Synchrony & diachrony

These are 2 approaches to language study. Before Saussur historical imperative grammar mainly investigated the development of language units. But the newly introduced notion of the language system made the synchronic approach more urgent, because it gives the opportunity to reveal the whole complexity of relations that exist within language & each step of its development.

Nowadays linguistics uses equally all the approaches & the choice of it depends on the object of investigation.

Basic schools of modern linguistics

1. tradition approach to grammar analysis & its limitations;

2. descriptive linguistics (descriptivism): the distributional method; the IC-method;

3. generative transformational method;

4. semantic trends in grammar: case grammar; contensive grammar; theory of semantic case;

5. text grammar.