Transformational generative grammar

Transformational-Generative Grammar



• Idealized representation of the knowledge possessed by a native speaker of a language

(Thomas & Kintgen, 1974)


TArrangementGrammatical

GElements

Rules

The Farmer in the Dell

Any speaker of language can produce

and understand an

infinite number of sentences.

(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003)

Features of Syntax

(Payne, 2006)

Features of Syntax

1. Constituency2. Hierarchical Structure3. Linear Word Order4. Syntactic Category

Linear Word Order

1. John saw the winners. 2. The winners saw John.

A. The 2012 Olympics B. 2012 the OlympicsC. Olympics 2012 the

1

Constituency

1. [Good girls] and boys2. Good [girls and boys]

2

Constituency

For Sale: An antique desk suitable for lady with thick legs

and big drawers.


Memory Challenge

1. 092141827892. 93206083. 11194. 97805216715075. EDL201

Constituency

Example: NPSimple: the dogComplicated: the big black dog

that always barks at me as I try to vainly sneak past the junkyard on my way home from piano lessons

Constituent Boundary TestWhere does the click occur?

RESULTS:• Easy = Constituent Boundary• Inside the Boundary = Thought of

Boundary


Hierarchical Structure3

Syntactic Categories

• NP• VP• S• AP• Det

• Adj• N• P• Adv• Aux

4

(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams 2003)

Phrase/Constituent Structure Treeor Phrase Marker

• Graphic representation• Evaluated, Validated, and Sanctioned

by PS rules

(Payne, 2006)

Phrase Structure (PS) Rules• Ways of representing idealized

patterns of constituent structure• Specify constituent arrangement• Recursive

(Payne, 2006 & Rowe & Levine, 2009)

Recursion

Repetition=

Productivity

(Rowe & Levine, 2009)

Phrase Structure (PS) Rule

Example:LABEL → CONTENTSNP → Det Nthe dog → the dog

(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003 & Payne, 2006)

1. NP → Det (AP) N (PP)

a small picture of Mary

Try this• the Olympic winners on the

stage

2. NP → NP Conj NP

the cat and the dog

3. VP → V (NP) (PP) (Adv) (CP)

believes that the student knows the answer

Try these

• slept• smile shyly• fled from the house

4. S → NP Aux VP

The men fled from the house.

Try these

• The boat sailed the river. • The wind swept the kite into

the sky.

Transformational Rules (T-rules)

• Derive a new structure

• Can be optional or obligatory

(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003 & Rowe and Levine, 2009)

T-rules

1. Deletion2. Insertion3. Movement4. Substitution

Movement Transformation

• Particle–I took off my shoes. –I took my shoes off.

• Topicalization–I love Kris. –Kris, I love.

1

Deletion Transformation• Imperative

–You come here. –Come here.

• Verb Phrase– If he says he will study for the test, he

will study for the test. – If he says he will study for the test, he

will.

2

Insertion Transformation

• He knew she was here. • He knew that she was here.

• *He won the race is history. • That he won the race is history.

3

Substitution Transformation

• Prominalization–Tony thought that Tony was the

best. –Tony thought that he was the best.

4

TG and Teaching Writing

NO to...• Mimicking textbook sentences• Teacher correctionYES to...• Student’s language creativity• Student’s judgment development

(Cleary & Linn, 1993)

Chomsky’s Linguistics Contributions

(Lester, 1973)

Habit Formation vs. Creativity

Knowledge of vs. Knowledge about

Universal Grammar

(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams 2003)

Language Acquisition Device

BibliographyCleary, L. M., & Linn, M. D. (1993). Linguistics for teachers.

New York: McGraw-Hill.

Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. M. (2003). An introduction to language (7th ed.). Boston: Thomson, Heinle.

Google Images. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from http://www.google.com.ph/imghp?hl=fil&tab=wi

Language Acquisition Device | TeachingEnglish | British Council | BBC. (n.d.). TeachingEnglish | British Council | BBC. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/knowledge-database/language-acquisition-device

BibliographyLasnik, H., Depiante, M. A., & Stepanov, A. (2000). Syntactic

structures revisited: contemporary lectures on classic transformational theory. Cambridge, Mass. [u.a.: MIT Press.

Lester, M. (1973). Readings in applied transformational grammar (2nd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

Murcia, M., & Freeman, D. (1983). The grammar book: an ESL/EFL teacher's course. Rowley, Mass.: Newbury House.

Ouhalla, J. (1994). Introducing transformational grammar: from rules to principles and parameters. London: E. Arnold.

BibliographyPayne, T. E. (2006). Exploring language structure: a student's guide.

Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2009). A concise introduction to linguistics (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.

Thomas, O., & Kintgen, E. R. (1974). Transformational grammar and the teacher of English: theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York: Holt Rinehart and Winston.

Widdowson, H. G. (1996). Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

"facebook.com." Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2012. <https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=397305633656134&set=a.1640888

APA formatting by BibMe.org.

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Transformational generative grammar