Grammar

Author : Mary Anne Winslow
What is grammar? A generative grammar is made up of a set of rules which make it clear
which sequences of words and phrases are possible. Noam Chomsky first
put forward the idea of a generative grammar. Chomsky himself
formulated three models, the finite-state, phrase-structure and
transformational. Since then other linguists have added other models.
The rules of the grammar are explicit, allocating a structural
description to each phrase. A generative grammar would allow someone
to generate an unlimited number of new phrases in a language, provided
the necessary vocabulary was known.A descriptive grammar is made up of a set of collected utterances made
by native speakers of a particular language. The creation of
descriptive grammars was popular amongst American linguists at the
turn of the last century who were attempting to record the dying
languages of the Native American Indians. Linguists analyze the
language by studying the patterns of phonology as well as the syntax
of the utterances. There is little interest in the actual meaning of
the phrases. The overall aim of a descriptive linguist is the
formulation of discovery procedures that would enable the systematic
description of any language. The reader of a descriptive grammar would
be able to determine what is or is not a proper sentence
grammatically, even if he or she does not understand the sentence.Prescriptive grammars are produced by language purists in order to
instruct the reader in how the particular language "should" be spoken.
Rather than describing the rules, a prescriptive grammar prescribes
them. As such if the rules of a language were to change new generative
and descriptive grammars would be necessary while a prescriptive
grammar might attempt to reverse the change, or pollution of the
language. In addition, prescriptive grammars work to prevent change.Pedagogic grammars are teaching grammars. They are for reference or
work. They can be comprehensive, but more often than not they are more
modest. Unlike a prescriptive grammar that states what the rule of
language are or should be, a pedagogic grammar merely draws attention
to the rules. In this way a pedagogic grammar is a combination of a
prescriptive and descriptive grammar. They are designed to aid
foreigners in learning a language or help native speakers (such as
undergraduate students reading linguistics at Oxford) understand their
own language. They are for teachers and students alike.Mary Anne Winslow is a member of Essay Writing Service counselling department team and a dissertation writing consultant. Contact her to get free counselling on custom essay writing.
Keyword : grammar