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Throughout the course of the long and traveled study of language, perhaps no work has emerged more significant in its implication for the human mind than that. Syntactic Structures in 1957. Whatever the devices used to represent sentences in linguistic studies, the goal of the technique is to uncover internal structure, accounting for the particular orders of words found in the sentences of a language. To this end linguists normally distinguish between a level of structure.
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Noam Chomsky's first book on syntactic structures is one of the first serious attempts on the part of a linguist to construct within the tradition of scientific theory-construction a comprehensive theory of language which may be understood in the same sense that a chemical, biological theory is understood by experts in those fields. It is not a mere reorganization of the d...more
Published September 10th 2012 by Walter de Gruyter (first published 1957)
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DeadWeightphrased thusly, something of a redundancy.
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Feb 27, 2008Odile rated it liked it · review of another edition
A difficult book to review... On the one hand I admire Chomsky's ability to think out of the box in a period (the fifties... long time ago already!) where the rest of linguistics was perhaps staying in that same box a bit too much. He looks at the description of language in a fresh new way which offers all scholars of language food for thought.
Nevertheless, as a modern linguist, I can't help but see this book as 'the one that started it all', by which I mean many decades of linguistics based on...more
Nevertheless, as a modern linguist, I can't help but see this book as 'the one that started it all', by which I mean many decades of linguistics based on...more
Jul 15, 2008J.G. Keely marked it as to-avoid
I've never read a work of Chomsky's that was well-thought-out and methodologically sound. From his political writings to his linguistic concepts, he seems to favor grand, unsubstantiated ideas. I have written a fuller account of my disappointing experiences with Chomsky's work here.
'Colorless green ideas sleep furiously'
These are undergraduate notes for linguistics students in the '50s. But as everyone knows, the theory outlined here has important philosophical implications. What Chomsky really demonstrates here is that English is transcendental - there are an infinite number of correct English sentences. And infinity goes beyond experience. So any speaker of English will necessarily have encountered only a small subset of that infinite range, yet will be able to judge that novel sentences - like 'colorless gre...more
Jun 03, 2008Jared rated it really liked it · review of another edition
the linguistic revolution begins... until he changes his mind ... and then it begins again!!! ... until he changes his mind ... an- well, we'll get there eventually. these things take time.
Mar 23, 2016Owlseyes inside Notre Dame, it's so strange a 15-hour blaze and...30-minutes wait to call the firemen...and marked it as to-read
Johnson
Noam Chomsky
The theories of the world’s best-known linguist have become rather weird
Mar 26th 2016
in:http://www.economist.com/news/books-a...
'Mr Chomsky says those who disagree with his ever-more contentious ideas are either blind or hucksters'.
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Thrilling. I have no formal background in linguistics and so was completely unable to situate _Syntactic Structures_ in its proper historical or argumentative context, but I found it lucid, engaging, and completely convincing.
Jan 20, 2012Anie rated it liked it · review of another edition Shelves: 2012, non-fiction, male-author, academic, used-to-own, linguistics
The book where it all began. It's a (relatively) clearly written book, and very useful in reviewing higher concepts about what we do when we work in transformational grammar. The chapter on syntax and semantics is especially lovely---that one gets 5 stars.
Jun 04, 2019Jesse Maurais rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Grammar is a device for generating sentences in a language. Those sentences are grammatical which are acceptable to speakers of the language in which they are expressed. Thus we have a theoretical disposition and an empirical component, respectively, for a linguistic theory. Grammar understood as a device will make the purpose of linguistic theory to explore a grammar's particular mechanisms for sentence generation, whereas it's ability to generate sentences which are grammatical to the ear of a...more
I enjoyed several chapters of this book including 2. The Independence of Grammar, 5. Limitations of Phrase Structure Description, 6. On the Goals of Linguistic Theory, 9. Syntax and Semantics. On the other hand, the raw syntactic conversation in 7. Some Transformations in English wasn't for me.
I found his arguments against the theory that 'semantic information is required for discovering or selecting a grammar' particularly interesting and convincing.
'Our ultimate aim is to provide an objective...more
I found his arguments against the theory that 'semantic information is required for discovering or selecting a grammar' particularly interesting and convincing.
'Our ultimate aim is to provide an objective...more
Jun 11, 2019Tri Nguyen Dang Minh rated it it was amazing
Word of warning: the book is very technical, especially from Chapter 5 onwards. The book presents Chomsky's theory of a 'transformational grammar', which is very...cool (I gues). But currently I can only understand about 40 per cent of the book. Will need a reread (or lots of rereads).
This book is well-thought out and helped me Understanding grammatical logic in programming. A weird take from this.
Feb 15, 2019Christopher M Struck rated it it was amazing
Simple and elegant.
Ample for understanding how grammar develops from a few base structures of a language.
Ample for understanding how grammar develops from a few base structures of a language.
Mar 07, 2015Ahmad Ahmadian rated it really liked it
Chomsky's 'Syntactic Structures' deals with purification and establishment of a theory of syntax. There are certain arguments in this book which I could not get at all, for instance his notion and use of 'simplicity' in choosing the better grammar is questionable, as he himself confesses that this approach was left unanalyzed. There were very bright ideas in it but i have to say that sometimes his arguments weren't acceptable or weren't sound. Anyway it provides a good insight into the theory of...more
Jan 18, 2015Barefoot Danger rated it really liked it
To a reader in 2015, this book isn't nearly as eye-opening as it must have been when it was published nearly 60 years ago. Most of what's in here is taught in Linguistics 101 classes, so without the background of what was previously 'common knowledge' in linguistics, it's not as groundbreaking as its reputation makes it seem. That being said, though, it's still 'Syntactic Structures,' for chrissake, right? Some of the transformations are a bit hard to follow, especially for someone without a sol...more
Aug 03, 2010Zach rated it liked it
this works well as a streamlined introduction to a fairly complicated idea. a lot is left out purposefully, and the jargon-heavy sections can be a tough slog to someone who's not very well-versed in basic linguistic theory/vocabulary (prepare to do a lot of backtracking, too). but the main ideas become much more clear and salient as his argument progresses.
Feb 06, 2011Dylan rated it really liked it
i don't know a lot about linguistics but it seems like chomsky has done a pretty good job of explicating not just a way in which grammatical sentences can be constructed, but the way in which the grammar of sentences is naturally understood. obviously only scratched the surface, but was easy to understand/full of examples. good introduction to his basic idea of generative grammar or w/e
I found this book surprisingly relevant, after all this time, to current debate in linguistics, and also surprisingly accessible (likely even to non-linguists). This probably says more about my expectations than about the book itself, however.
Mar 31, 2007Misnomer rated it it was amazingRecommends it for: Anyone who has a brain (that means you know linguistics and use who instead of that)
As a student, teacher and growing scholar of the English language, this book was vital to my progress. Chomsky thinks inventively, as well as intuitively, about the nature of language and its relationship with generative grammar. The man continues to impress me considerably.
A dense monograph, to say the least.
Jun 30, 2008David rated it it was amazing
The seminal book in the development of Chomsky's 'generative grammar,' a major influence in modern linguistics.
Not for the faint of heart.
Not for the faint of heart.
It's a classic, but it's not very well written.
Oct 13, 2010Taylor Bolinger is currently reading it
Haven't finished it yet, but I think I see where he's going with it.
The book is very beneficial,profitable and helpful for all researchers in the field of syntax and parsing. I consider Chomsky as a father of all recent linguists.
May 10, 2012Alexis rated it it was ok
I'm glad I read it, and I'm glad it's over. ;) You can see my review here.
I envy his deftness in making use of so simple words to convey so much meaning. The style and structures of writing are unique and appreciated by many. Excellent book for learners of linguistics.
Aug 27, 2015Frederico Prado rated it it was amazing
The sacred texts that started everything will never age.
Mar 15, 2015Emily rated it did not like it
A fantastic exploration of his own internal dialogue abilities.
Jun 07, 2015Pamela rated it it was ok · review of another edition
I really didn't get this.. maybe I'll re-read it after I've explored over books. ;)
Jun 07, 2009Maureen rated it it was ok
Not for the novice (e.g. me)
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Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, political activist, author, and lecturer. He is an Institute Professor and professor emeritus of linguistics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Chomsky is credited with the creation of the theory of generative grammar, considered to be one of the most significant contributions to the field of linguistics made in the 20th century. H...more
Chomsky is credited with the creation of the theory of generative grammar, considered to be one of the most significant contributions to the field of linguistics made in the 20th century. H...more
In linguistics, 'syntax' refers to the rules that govern the ways in which words combine to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. The term 'syntax' comes from the Greek, meaning 'arrange together.' The term is also used to mean the study of the syntactic properties of a language. In computer contexts, the term refers to the proper ordering of symbols and codes so that the computer can understand what instructions are telling it to do.
Syntax
- Syntax is the proper order of words in a phrase or sentence.
- Syntax is a tool used in writing proper grammatical sentences.
- Native speakers of a language learn correct syntax without realizing it.
- The complexity of a writer's or speaker's sentences creates a formal or informal level of diction that is presented to its audience.
Hearing and Speaking Syntax
Syntax is one of the major components of grammar. It's the concept that enables people to know how to start a question with a question word ('What is that?'), or that adjectives generally come before the nouns they describe ('green chair'), subjects often come before verbs in non-question sentences ('She jogged'), prepositional phrases start with prepositions ('to the store'), helping verbs come before main verbs ('can go' or 'will do'), and so on.
For native speakers, using correct syntax is something that comes naturally, as word order is learned as soon as an infant starts absorbing the language. Native speakers can tell something isn't said quite right because it 'sounds weird,' even if they can't detail the exact grammar rule that makes something sound 'off' to the ear.
'It is syntax that gives the words the power to relate to each other in a sequence...to carry meaning—of whatever kind—as well as glow individually in just the right place'
(Burgess 1968)
Syntactic Rules
English parts of speech often follow ordering patterns in sentences and clauses, such as compound sentences are joined by conjunctions (and, but, or) or that multiple adjectives modifying the same noun follow a particular order according to their class (such as number-size-color, as in 'six small green chairs'). The rules of how to order words help the language parts make sense.
Sentences often start with a subject, followed by a predicate (or just a verb in the simplest sentences) and contain an object or a complement (or both), which shows, for example, what's being acted upon. Take the sentence 'Beth slowly ran the race in wild, multicolored flip-flops.' The sentence follows a subject-verb-object pattern ('Beth ran the race'). Adverbs and adjectives take their places in front of what they're modifying ('slowly ran'; 'wild, multicolored flip-flops'). The object ('the race') follows the verb 'ran', and the prepositional phrase ('in wild, multicolored flip-flops') starts with the preposition 'in'.
Syntax vs. Diction and Formal vs. Informal
Diction refers to the style of writing or speaking that someone uses, brought about by their choice of words, whereas syntax is the order in which they're arranged in the spoken or written sentence. Something written using a very high level of diction, like a paper published in an academic journal or a lecture given in a college classroom, is written very formally. Speaking to friends or texting are informal, meaning they have a low level of diction.
'It is essential to understand that the differences exist not because spoken language is a degradation of written language but because any written language, whether English or Chinese, results from centuries of development and elaboration by a small number of users.'Jim Miller
(Miller, 2008)
Formal written works or presentations would likely also have more complex sentences or industry-specific jargon. They are directed to a more narrow audience than something meant to be read or heard by the general public, where the audience members' backgrounds will be more diverse.
Precision in word choice is less exacting in informal contexts than formal ones, and grammar rules are more flexible in spoken language than in formal written language. Understandable English syntax is more flexible than most.
'...the odd thing about English is that no matter how much you screw sequences word up, you understood, still, like Yoda, will be. Other languages don't work that way. French? Dieu! Misplace a single le or la and an idea vaporizes into a sonic puff. English is flexible: you can jam it into a Cuisinart for an hour, remove it, and meaning will still emerge.”
(Copeland, 2009)
Types of Sentence Structures
Types of sentences and their syntax modes include simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences, and compound-complex sentences. Compound sentences are two simple sentences joined by a conjunction. Complex sentences have dependent clauses, and compound-complex sentences have both types included.
- Simple sentence: Subject-verb structure ('The girl ran.')
- Compound sentence: Subject-verb-object-conjunction-subject-verb structure ('The girl ran the marathon, and her cousin did, too.')
- Complex sentence: Dependent clause-subject-verb-object structure ('Although they were tired after the marathon, the cousins decided to go to a celebration at the park.')
- Compound-complex sentence: Four clauses, dependent and independent structures ('Although they weren't fond of crowds, this was different, they decided, because of the common goal that had brought everyone together.')
Syntax Variations and Distinctions
Syntax has changed some over the development of English through the centuries. 'The proverb Whoever loved that loved not at first sight? indicates that English negatives could once be placed after main verbs' (Aitchison, 2001). And not all people speak English in exactly the same way. Social dialects learned by people with common backgrounds—such as a social class, profession, age group, or ethnic group—also may influence the speakers' syntax. Think of the differences between teenagers' slang and more fluid word order and grammar vs. research scientists' technical vocabulary and manner of speaking to each other. Social dialects are also called 'social varieties.'
Beyond Syntax
Following proper syntax doesn't guarantee that a sentence will have meaning, though. Linguist Noam Chomsky created the sentence 'Colorless green ideas sleep furiously,' which is syntactically and grammatically correct because it has the words in the correct order and verbs that agree with subjects, but it's still nonsense. With it, Chomsky showed that rules governing syntax are distinct from meanings that words convey.
The distinction between grammar and syntax has been somewhat disrupted by recent research in lexicogrammar, which takes the words into account in grammar rules: For example, some verbs (transitive ones, that perform an action on something) always take direct objects. A transitive (action) verb example:
- 'She removed the index card from the old recipe box.'
The verb is 'removed' and the object is 'index card.' Another example includes a transitive phrasal verb:
- 'Please look over my report before I turn it in.'
'Look over' is the phrasal verb and 'report' is the direct object. To be a complete thought, you need to include what's being looked over. Thus, it has to have a direct object.
Resources and Further Reading
- Aitchison, Jean. Language Change: Progress or Decay? Cambridge University, 2001.
- Burgess, Alan. Enderby Outside. Heinemann, 1968.
- Chomsky, Noam. The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory. University of Chicago, 1985.
- Copeland, Douglas. Generation A: A Novel. Scribner, 2009.
- Miller, Jim. An Introduction to English Syntax. Edinburgh University, 2008.