Page 375 - DENG504_LINGUISTICS

Digvijay Pandya, Lovely Professional University Unit 29: Transformational and Phrase Structure Rules

Unit 29: Transformational and Phrase Structure Rules Notes

CONTENTS
Objectives
Introduction
29.1 Systems (Theories) of Syntactic Analysis
29.2 Immediate Constituent Analysis
29.3 Phrase Structure Grammars
29.4 Chomsky’s X-Bar Theory
29.5 Summary
29.6 Key-Words
29.7 Review Questions
29.8 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit students will be able to:
• Discuss systems of syntactic analysis.
• Explain phrase structure rules.
Introduction

In linguistics, syntax is the study of the principles and rules for constructing sentences in natural
languages. In addition to referring to the discipline, the term syntax is also used to refer directly to
the rules and principles that govern the sentence structure of any individual language, as in “the
syntax of Modern Irish.”
There are a number of theoretical approaches to the discipline of syntax. Many linguists see syntax as
a branch of biology, since they conceive of syntax as the study of linguistic knowledge as embodied
in the human mind. Others (e.g, Gerlad Gazdar) take a more Platonistic view, since they regard
syntax to be the study of an abstract formal system. Yet others (e.g. Joseph Greenberg) consider
grammar a taxonomical device to reach broad generalisations across languages. Let us look at this
term in details and the various functions it adopts.
Background: Syntax and Structural Linguistics: During mid 1950s there was special emphasis on
the significance on the study of syntax. Before mid 1980s structuralism spreads items wing in the
field of grammar. According to structuralism purely human phenomenon such as language, literature
and culture are structured system. With this broader perspective of looking such phenomenon and
structured system, structural linguistic came in to existence. It was Ferdinand de Saussure who
introduced this approach towards linguistics. This further taken ahead by linguist in America, though
independently like Edward Sapir and Leonard Bloomfield. In Europe it was popularised by Prague
school linguists like Nikolay Sergeyevitch, Trubetzkoy and Roman Jackobson. Further Claude Levi-
Strauss applied this approach in anthropology.
Zelling Harris in 1955 suggested there exists some semantic and non-mechanical relationship between
the sentences taken ahead and elaborated by Noam Chomsky—a student of Harris. Chomsky thus
introduced a new approach which is known as generativist approach towards language or generative
grammar. Chomsky advocated for the need of universal grammar, which considered additioal language
features of different languages. The study of sentence structure could be helpful in understanding the
organization of thoughts in human brain. Thus syntax plays an important role in generative grammar.
29.1 Systems (Theories) of Syntactic Analysis

During the past fifty years modern linguistics has developed an impressive array of procedures and
theories of linguistic or syntactic analysis. What had been in the past of interest mainly to the pedagogue

LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 369