On Norms and Experience in Structural Linguistics
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Repor T Resumes
REPOR TRESUMES ED 020 167 TE DOD 444 LINGUISTICS AND WRITTEN COMPOSITION. BY- ALLEN, HAROLD B. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF TEACHERS OF ENG.,CHAMPAIGN,ILL PUB DATE 63 EDRS PRICE MF-$0.25 HC-$0.60 13P. it DESCRIPTORS- *APPLIED LINGUISTICS, *COMPOSITION (LITERARY), *LINGUISTICS, *RHETORIC, SENTENCE STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION SKILLS (LITERARY), PARAGRAPH COMPOSITION, PUNCTUATION, STRUCTURAL GRAMMARI.TRANSFORMATION GENERATIVE GRAMMAR, TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR, WRITING SKILLS, SENTENCES, THE DESCRIPTIVE SCIENCE OF LINGUISTICS AND THE SKILL OF WRITTEN COMPOSITION MEET IN THE "SENTENCE," AND THE INFORMATION WHICH LINGUISTICS PROVIDES ON SENTENCE STRUCTURE' CAN AID THE TEACHER OF COMPOSITION. ALTHOUGH TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR DOES.NOT IMPROVE A STUDENT'S WRITING, CONSTITUENT GRAMMAR AND TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAMMAR, BY PRESENTING METHODS OF ANALYZING AND ORGANIZING SENTENCES, ENABLE THESTUDENT TO FAMILIARIZE HIMSELF WITH THE BASIC FORMS AND ELEMENTSOF THE SENTENCE. THROUGH PRACTICE, A STUDENT'S "REPLACEMENT POTENTIAL" (THE RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES HE HAS AVAILABLEFOR A GIVEN SLOT IN A SENTENCE) IS INCREASED, AND HE LEARNSTHE MANIPULATION AND GROUPING OF SENTENCE PARTS. AS HISOBJECTIVE APPRECIATION OF SENTENCE STRUCTURE AND ITSVARIATIONS GROWS, HE ACQUIRES A CONCEPT OF CONSTRUCTION WHICH CAN BEAPPLIED TO GROUPS OF SENTENCES AS WELL AS GROUPS OF WORDS, AND CONSEQUENTLY IS BETTER ABLE TO WRITE UNIFIED PARAGRAPHS AND PAPERS. THUS, ALTHOUGH LINGUISTICS PROPER IS NOT CAPABLE OF .DEALING WITH UNITS OF COMPOSITION LARGER THAN THE SENTENCE, THE APPROACHES DEVELOPED BY LINGUISTS FOR STUDYING SENTENCES CAN AID THE STUDENT OF COMPOSITION TO IMPROVE HIS WRITING SKILLS. (THIS ARTICLE APPEARED IN "LANGUAGE, LINGUISTICS, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS, PROCEEDINGS OF THE SPRING INSTITUTES,1963." CHAMPAIGN, ILL., NCTE, 1963.) (LH) LANGUAGE, LINGUESTICS, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS r-4 CD Proceedings of the Spring Institutes, 1963 C\J of the 1.0 National Council of Teachers of English Bernard J. -
On the Irrelevance of Transformational Grammar to Second Language Pedagogy
ON THE IRRELEVANCE OF TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAMMAR TO SECOND LANGUAGE PEDAGOGY John T. Lamendella The University of Michigan Many scholars view transformational grammar as an attempt to represent the structure of linguistic knowledge in the mind and seek to apply transformational descriptions of languages to the de- velopment of second language teaching materials. It will be claimed in this paper that it is a mistake to look to transformational gram- mar or any other theory of linguistic description to provide the theoretical basis for either second language pedagogy or a theory of language acquisition. One may well wish to describe the ab- stract or logical structure of a language by constructing a trans- formational grammar which generates the set of sentences identi- fied with that language. However, this attempt should not be con- fused with an attempt to understand the cognitive structures and processes involved in knowing or using a language. It is a cogni- tive theory of language within the field of psycholinguistics rather than a theory of linguistic description which should underlie lan- guage teaching materials. A great deal of effort has been expended in the attempt to demonstrate the potential contributions of the field of descriptive linguistics to the teaching of second languages and, since the theory of transformational grammar has become the dominant theory in the field of linguistics, it is not surprising that applied linguists have sought to apply transformational grammar to gain new in- sights into the teaching of second languages. It will be claimed in this paper that it is a mistake to look to transformational grammar or any other theory of linguistic description to provide the theoretical basis for either second language pedagogy or a theory of language acquisition. -
Structuralism 1. the Nature of Meaning Or Understanding
Structuralism 1. The nature of meaning or understanding. A. The role of structure as the system of relationships Something can only be understood (i.e., a meaning can be constructed) within a certain system of relationships (or structure). For example, a word which is a linguistic sign (something that stands for something else) can only be understood within a certain conventional system of signs, which is language, and not by itself (cf. the word / sound and “shark” in English and Arabic). A particular relationship within a شرق combination society (e.g., between a male offspring and his maternal uncle) can only be understood in the context of the whole system of kinship (e.g., matrilineal or patrilineal). Structuralism holds that, according to the human way of understanding things, particular elements have no absolute meaning or value: their meaning or value is relative to other elements. Everything makes sense only in relation to something else. An element cannot be perceived by itself. In order to understand a particular element we need to study the whole system of relationships or structure (this approach is also exactly the same as Malinowski’s: one cannot understand particular elements of culture out of the context of that culture). A particular element can only be studied as part of a greater structure. In fact, the only thing that can be studied is not particular elements or objects but relationships within a system. Our human world, so to speak, is made up of relationships, which make up permanent structures of the human mind. B. The role of oppositions / pairs of binary oppositions Structuralism holds that understanding can only happen if clearly defined or “significant” (= essential) differences are present which are called oppositions (or binary oppositions since they come in pairs). -
The Syntax–Semantics Interface in Systemic Functional Grammar: Halliday’S Interpretation of the Hjelmslevian Model of Stratification
PREPRINT NOTICE This is a PREPRINT of an article to be published in Journal of Pragmatics. Copyright © Elsevier 2011. For citation, please consult the published version. ↓ P U B L I S H E D Full reference: VERSION Taverniers, Miriam (2011) The syntax–semantics interface in Systemic Functional Grammar: Halliday’s interpretation of the Hjelmslevian model of stratification. Journal of Pragmatics 43(4): 1100–1126. DOI:10.1016/j.pragma.2010.09.003 F U R T H E R http://users.UGent.be/~mtaverni/ INFORMATION & C ONTACT [email protected] The syntax–semantics interface in Systemic Functional Grammar: Halliday’s interpretation of the Hjelmslevian model of stratification Miriam Taverniers (Ghent University) English Department Ghent University Rozier 44 9000 Gent Belgium [email protected] Phone: + 32 9 264 3789 Fax: + 32 9 264 4179 PREPRINT. Taverniers, Miriam (2011) The syntax–semantics interface in Systemic Functional Grammar: Halliday’s interpretation of the Hjelmslevian model of stratification. Journal of Pragmatics 43(4): 1100–1126. Abstract The aim of this article is to explore how exactly the idea of distinguishing different coding levels in language has been theorized in different stages of Hallidayan systemic functional grammar (SFG), focusing on its view of the syntax–semantics interface. This is done by juxtaposing the levels of the Hallidayan model and the various components of Hjelmslev’s model of stratification, on the basis of Halliday’s re-interpretation of Hjelmslev’s theory at various stages in the development of SFG. In this exploration, specific attention is paid to two important theoretical aspects of the design of Hjelmslev’s and Halliday’s models: (1) the different dimensions along which semiotic distinctions are made in the two models, i.e. -
Hjelmslev's Glossematics and Linguistic Realism
Workshop The Foundations of Linguistics – Languages as Abstract Objects 26. – 27. June 2015, Braunschweig University of Technology Predecessors: Hjelmslev’s Glossematics and Linguistic Realism Ellen Fricke & Martin Siefkes Chemnitz University of Technology [email protected] www.ellenfricke.de [email protected] www.siefkes.de Overview 1. Louis Hjelmslev 2. Hjelmslev‘s demands on a theory of language 3. Some important distinctions of glossematics 4. Hjelmslev and multimodal grammar Louis Hjelmslev Louis Hjelmslev (1899 – 1965) • Danish linguist • Co-founder of the Copenhagen school • Other members were: Viggo Brøndal (1887 – 1942), Hans Jørgen Uldall (1907 – 1957) • One of the most important theoreticians of structuralism Louis Hjelmslev (1899 – 1965) • Together with Uldall, he developed a theory of language called “glossematics” • An outline of Glossematics (1936) • Prolegomena to a theory of language (1963; Orig: Omkring sprogteoriens grundlæggelse, 1943) • Further development of Saussure’s analysis, explicating Saussure’s notions • Glosseme = smallest units of language: e.g. phonological and semantic features • not identical with Leonard Bloomfield’s “glossemes”, which corresponds to morphemes Hjelmslev’s demands on a theory of language Hjelmslev‘s basic assumptions 1) What makes something a language? 2) When is a language identical with itself in various manifestations? • In Prolegomena to a Theory of Language, Hjelmslev criticised earlier schools of linguistics that concentrated on language change (such as the Young Grammarians) • Hjelmslev argues against the “humanist tradition”, which claims that no general regularities can be found • Anti-descriptivist stance Demands on a linguistic theory • For every process, linguists should look for an underlying system; for fluctuations, they should search for underlying constancy (cf. -
Chapter 7 Linguistics As a Science of Structure Ryan M
Chapter 7 Linguistics as a science of structure Ryan M. Nefdt University of the Western Cape Generative linguistics has rapidly changed during the course of a relatively short period. This has caused many to question its scientific status as a realist scientific theory (Stokhof & van Lambalgen 2011; Lappin et al. 2000). In this chapter, I argue against this conclusion. Specifically, I claim that the mathematical foundations of the science present a different story below the surface. I agree with critics that due to the major shifts in theory over the past 80 years, linguistics is indeed opened up to the problem of pessimistic meta-induction or radical theory change. However, I further argue that a structural realist approach (Ladyman 1998; French 2006) can save the field from this problem and at the same time capture its structural nature. I discuss particular historical instances of theory change in generative grammar as evidence for this interpretation and finally attempt to extend it beyond the gener- ative tradition to encompass previous frameworks in linguistics. 1 Introduction The generativist revolution in linguistics started in the mid-1950s, inspired in large part by insights from mathematical logic and in particular proof theory. Since then, generative linguistics has become a dominant paradigm, with many connections to both the formal and natural sciences. At the centre of the newly established discipline was the syntactic or formal engine, the structures of which were revealed through modelling grammatical form. The generativist paradigm in linguistics initially relied heavily upon the proof-theoretic techniques intro- duced by Emil Post and other formal logicians to model the form language takes (Tomalin 2006; Pullum 2011; 2013).1 Yet despite these aforementioned formal be- ginnings, the generative theory of linguistics has changed its commitments quite 1Here my focus will largely be on the formal history of generative syntax but I will make some comments on other aspects of linguistics along the way. -
The Twilight of Structuralism in Linguistics?*
Ewa Jędrzejko Univesity of Silesia in Katowice nr 3, 2016 The Twilight of Structuralism in Linguistics?* Key words: structuralism, linguistics, methodological principles, evolution of studies on language I would like to start with some general remarks in order to avoid misunderstandings due to the title of this paper. “The question that our title / has cast in deathless bronze”1 is just a mere trigger, and a signal of reference to animated discussions held in many disci- plines of modern liberal arts: philosophy, literary studies, social sciences, aesthetics, cultural studies (just to mention areas closest to linguistics), concerning their current methodologi- cal state and future perspectives regarding theoretical research. What I mean by that is, among others, the dispute around deconstructionism being in opposition to neo-positivistic stance, as well as some views on the current situation in art expressed in the volume called Zmierzch estetyki – rzekomy czy autentyczny? [The twilight of aesthetics – alleged or true?] (Morawski, 1987),2 or problems signalled by the literary scholars in the tellingly entitled Po strukturalizmie [After structuralism] (Nycz, 1992).3 The statements included in this article are for me one out of many voices in the discus- sion on the changes observed in linguistics in the context of questions about the future of structuralism. Since in a way the situation in contemporary linguistics (including Polish linguistics) is similar. The shift in the scope of interest of linguistics and the way it is presented may -
A Study of Glossematics Critical Survey of Its Fundamental Concepts a Study of Glossema Tics Critical Survey of Its Fundamental Concepts
A STUDY OF GLOSSEMATICS CRITICAL SURVEY OF ITS FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS A STUDY OF GLOSSEMA TICS CRITICAL SURVEY OF ITS FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS BY B. SIERTSEMA PH. D. (AMSTERDAM) SECOND EDITION • THE HAGUE MARTIN US NI]HOFF 1965 ISBN 978-94-011-8161-7 ISBN 978-94-011-8796-1 (eBook) DOl 10.1007/978-94-011-8796-1 COPYright .1965 by Maytinus Nijhoff. The Hague. Holland. All rights yeseYVed. including the Yight to tyanslate OY to yepyodflce this book OY payts thereof in any foym_ PREFACE This book owes its .existence to the encouragement and help of many others. In the first place I mention Prof. Dr. A.]. B. N. Reichling, who was my supervisor at Amsterdam University and who from the beginning helped me on, through his most stimulating teaching and above all through his encouragement, his friendly advice and his sincere interest. The readiness with which he was always prepared to spend hours and hours of his valuable time on the discussion of the many problems with which the study of Glossematics confronts one, has often inspired me with wonder and deep gratitude. It is hardly possible to do justice in a preface to a supervisor to whom one owes so much, and from whose keen insight one has learned so much. One can only feel profoundly thankful for having been brought up in the linguistic atmosphere which Prof. Reichling creates about him, an atmosphere characterized by a persistent desire for an empirical approach to the facts of language, which desire he knows how to instill into his pupils. -
A Logical Reconstruction of Leonard Bloomfield's Linguistic Theory
A logical Reconstruction of Leonard Bloomfield’s Linguistic Theory Thomas Meier Draft, October 2012 Abstract In this work we present a logical reconstruction of Leonard Bloom- field’s theory of structural linguistics. First, the central notions of this theory are analyzed and discussed. In the following section, a recon- struction with the so-called structuralist approach in the philosophy of science is presented. After defining the general framework of Bloom- field’s theory, questions of lawlikeness and theoretical terms will be discussed. In a further step, this work aims to contribute to the dis- cussion of theory change and scientific realism, applied to linguistic theory. After the reconstruction of further theories of linguistics, it can be studied whether certain inter theoretical relations hold. It aims to be a contribution to the discussion on the foundations of linguistics. structural linguistics - structuralist approach - lawlikeness - theoretical terms - theory change 1 1 Introduction The aim of this work is to provide a logical reconstruction of Leonard Bloom- field’s linguistic theory. Only few work has been done so far in the philosophy of linguistics, concerning logical reconstructions of linguistic theories. By the application of the methodological framework of the so-called structural- ist approach (see Balzer, et.al. 1987), we reconstruct Bloomfield’s theory. The reconstruction will provide new insights as it shows how the notions of Bloomfield’s theory are interrelated. Furthermore, the issues of lawlikeness and theoretical terms in Bloomfield’s theory will be addressed. A logical reconstruction of Bloomfield’s theory also opens a way for future work on intertheoretical relations between linguistic theories and, in a broader philo- sophical sense, can be seen as an important fundamental contribution that can be used in the discussion on theory change and scientific realism, applied to linguistics. -
Structural Linguistics and Formal Semantics
Structural Linguistics And Formal Semantics Jaroslav Peregrin [Travaux du Cercle Linguistique de Prague I, Benjamins, Amsterdam, 1995; original pagination] Introduction The beginning of this century hailed a new paradigm in linguistics, the paradigm brought about by de Saussure's Cours de Linguistique Genérále and subsequently elaborated by Jakobson, Hjelmslev and other linguists. It seemed that the linguistics of this century was destined to be structuralistic. However, half of the century later a brand new paradigm was introduced by Chomsky's Syntactic Structures followed by Montague's formalization of semantics. This new turn has brought linguistics surprisingly close to mathematics and logic, and has facilitated a direct practical exploitation of linguistic theory by computer science. One of the claims of this paper is that the post-Saussurian structuralism, both in linguistics and in philosophy, is partly based on ideas quite alien to de Saussure. The main aim then is to explain the ideas driving the formalistic turn of linguistics and to investigate the problem of the extent to which they can be accommodated within the framework of the Saussurian paradigm. The main thesis advocated is that the point of using formalisms in linguistics is more methodological than substantial and that it can be well accommodated within the conceptual framework posited by de Saussure. 1 De Saussure vs. Structuralism Before beginning to discuss structuralism, let us stress the distinction between the genuine views of Ferdinand de Saussure and the teachings of his various avowed followers, be they linguists or philosophers. In fact, de Saussure's theory, as presented in his Course, is an austere and utterly rational scientific theory articulated with a rigour commonly associated with linguistic theories of the 'post-Chomskian' period, though differing from them by the absence of -$526/$9 3(5(*5,1 formalisms. -
Sapir, Harris and Chomsky in the Twentieth Century William L
VOLUME 7 29 Cognitive Critique SAPIR, HARRIS AND CHOMSKY IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY WILLIAM L. ABLER Department of Geology The Field Museum, Chicago, Illinois 60605, USA E-MAIL: [email protected] KEYWORDS algebra, Chomsky, discrete, evolution, language, mind, numbers, sentence ABSTRACT The concept of linguistics has isolated language from other natural systems, and linguistics has remained overwhelmingly a descrip- tive, rather than a theoretical science. The idea of language uni- versals has thus been a matter of finding shared properties among the highest levels in the organization of language, rather than an attempt to understand the connections of language to other natural systems at all levels of its organization. Language basics such as discreteness have been treated as axiomatic or refractory. The ori- gin of language has been treated as an exercise in continuity, rather than an attempt to understand the organization of language. These trends have been driven by the personalities of Edward Sapir, Zellig Harris and Noam Chomsky, more than by scientific considerations. Sapir’s eagerness, Harris’s indecision, and Chomsky’s magnetism have generated a perfect scientific storm. 30 SAPIR, HARRIS AND CHOMSKY IN THE 20TH CENTURY INTRODUCTION In the 1960s, the gossip was still current that linguist Edward Sapir (1921), in the 1920s, had promoted the study of his favorite subject as an independent science, in reaction to the meteoric rise of physics that followed the Eddington eclipse expedition of 1919. Whatever his real motivations, it is possible to watch Sapir (1921, p. 58) aban- don the image of speech-sounds as “atoms” (from chemistry) or (1925/1957, p. -
Glossary for Syntax in Three Dimensions (2015) © Carola Trips
Glossary for Syntax in three Dimensions (2015) © Carola Trips A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y – Z A abstract case Abstract Case (or "Deep Case") is an abstract notion of case distinct from the morphologically marked case (cf. "case") used in Case theory (subtheories of Generative Grammar). Abstract Case is present even in languages which lack morphological case on noun phrases; it is usually assumed to be congruent with morphological case when such features are present. For example in German dative case is marked morphologically as in Ich helfe ihm ('I help him') whereas no such case marking is found in the English sentence (but Case is still there). academy In previous centuries the need for an academy dealing with linguistic matters was discussed and debated in England (on the model of the French académie française). Due to the increase in the production of grammars in the 17th and 18th centuries and the rising number of grammarians, calls for an academy to codify the English language by publishing an authoritative grammar and dictionary dwindled. acceptance Step in the process of standardization: a selected variety of a particular language must gain acceptance by a group of speakers/users who are capable of influencing other speakers. actants In valency grammar, a functional unit determined by the valency of the verb. Actants are required by the valence of the verb and are the equivalents of arguments (in generative grammar). © Carola Trips 1 active voice Term used in grammatical analysis of voice, referring to a sentence, clause or verb form where from a semantic point of view the grammatical subject is typically the actor in relation to the verb.