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Syntax

Chomsky takes a different, cognitive approach to studying syntax compared to traditional grammars. He argues that native speakers have innate, tacit grammatical competence that allows them to form correct sentences. This competence is an internalized linguistic system. Chomsky's ultimate goal is to develop a theory of universal grammar that characterizes the nature of possible grammars for human languages, distinguishing them from artificial languages or animal communication systems. He suggests that natural language grammars are optimally designed to interface with other components of the mind like thoughts and speech.

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14 views2 pages

Syntax

Chomsky takes a different, cognitive approach to studying syntax compared to traditional grammars. He argues that native speakers have innate, tacit grammatical competence that allows them to form correct sentences. This competence is an internalized linguistic system. Chomsky's ultimate goal is to develop a theory of universal grammar that characterizes the nature of possible grammars for human languages, distinguishing them from artificial languages or animal communication systems. He suggests that natural language grammars are optimally designed to interface with other components of the mind like thoughts and speech.

Uploaded by

Samar Zawali
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Tasnim ayari

Syntax
First session

Syntax the sciences of sentences structure is studies the operation by which sentences are formed it
addresses the question of “what operations have made such structure possible”.

The Chomsky approach to syntax: Within traditional grammar syntax is described in terms of taxonomy.

The central idea is that phrases and sentences are built up If constitute (Syntactic unit) that each belong
to a specific grammatical category (part I speech) (Noun verb adjective adverb) and each serve a
grammatical function (subject object compliment.)

The job of the linguist there for is to analyses the sentence and identity each constituent

The Simpsons ate quickly => Sub verb adverb

N.P V.P

Chomsky takes a contractive approach to the study of grammar

A native sparker of a langue can be set to know the grammar of their language there is they Know the
correct away to form sentences in their native sentences.

It is important to empathize that grammatical knowledge of one native language is tacit. To introduce a
technical term we can say that native speakers (Competence vs performance)have grammatical
competence and Chomsky drew a distinction between competence and performance: very often is
imperfect “slips of the tongue misunderstanding misinterpret ...” however this does not mean we don't
know our main language but rather we commit performance errors -due to being tired drunk, bored,
sleepy....
Tasnim ayari

Grammar of a language is concerned with competence rather than performance

According to Chomsky the innate grammatical competence is internalized and our ultimate goal in
studying competence is to represent this internalized linguistic system (I language) which makes the
speaker proficient in their own native language.

Such a cognitive approach has obvious implications for the descriptive linguist who is conserned of the
development of a grammar of a practical language.

Chomsky ultimate goal is to devise de a theory of universal grammar. (U.G) which generalizes from the
grammars of particular language to the grammars of all possible naturel I language

UG is a theory about the natural of possible grammars of human languages. Since the theory of UG is
concerned with characterizing the naturel grammar an important question it raises “what differentiate
human I language from artificial language like those used in computering like Java or from animal System
(bees, songs birds…).

U.G allows us to make use of the descriptive apaladic in devising nature language grammar it imposes a
condition on our theory of language in that it must be constrained that is we want our theory to provide
us to technical devices which are limited in their expressive power and not appropriate of the for the
description of other communication system.

A constrained theory provides principle explanation another requirement is minimal aspartic as that is
the grammar of a language need to be as simple as possible (otherwise you wouldn't learn it).

Chomsky suggested that language is a perfect system with an optimal design in the sense that natural
language grammars creates structures which are designed to interface perfectly with other component
of the mind specifically the speech and thoughts systems.

One component of grammar is a lexical (mental dictionary) and the relevant words chosen from it are
combined together by a serious of syntactic computation in the Syntax together they born syntax
structure. This structure is input to the semantic component and to the phonetic form component

Then we have semantic representation and phonetic form represent which respectively correspond to
the thoughts system and the speech system.

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