Linguistics: Generative Linguistics

Posted February 7, 2023 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Linguistics, Self-Editing, Writing

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Generative linguistics evolved from Chomsky’s original theory on transformational grammar.

DISCLAIMER: I think this theory is a crock, and my post may be, ahem, negative. It also seems that I’m not alone in thinking this.

Generative linguistics is but one of many approaches to the study of language, and it focuses on four areas: (1) phonology (how the function, behavior, and organization of speech sounds are organized in the mind and used to convey meaning), (2) morphology (the structure and meaning of words), (3) syntax (the structure of sentences), and (4) semantics (linguistic meaning).

The theory behind generative linguistics is that humans have a natural capacity for “human language [that] is shaped by a set of basic principles that are part of the human brain (and even present in the brains of small children” (Nordquist). That children learn the rules of language (sentence structure, verb tenses, etc.) and the sound and meaning of words in a relatively short time and with little or no apparent conscious effort. That the individual has an idea of what the rules are.

I have to take issue with this, and I suspect anyone who has children will as well. It’s not that effortless. This theory has to have been generated by men with little interaction with young children.

The theory claims that human language learners only have a strict set of principles that don’t allow for many alternatives. That you can present a native speaker with a variety of sentences that are either grammatically correct or not. That they can judge which is correct or which is not. *snicker*

This area of linguistics also believe that it “generates an endless variety of sentences that are considered grammatically correct and no sentences that aren’t . . . that the human ability for language is innate, and the second is that human language is based on a set of logical rules that allow a speaker to produce novel sentences that can be understood by others who speak the same language” (Lapham). I will agree with that, lol. I can usually figure out what my niece is saying, even if her phrasing is grammatically incorrect.

Generativism uses NP VP (NP) analysis in natural language description. That is, the subject and the verb phrase appearing as a word or arrangement of words that is part of a larger sentence construction, and the object placed within the verb phrase.

N(oun) P(hrase)	V(erb) P(hrase)	[NP]
A man	loves	a woman.
The dog	ate	the bone.
The balloon	rose	in the sky.

Cognitive linguistics, which is interested in understanding language and how neural structures function biologically, evolved from generative linguistics, which is only interested in analyzing the language (Generative Linguistics).

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Linguistics is . . .

. . . the systematic study of the nature, structure, and variation of language (of which grammar is a part), which describes how people use language. For the writer, how words are used (or spelled!) determines a character’s social and educational level and the time period for the story.

As I discover more examples, also-known-ases, and additions, I’ll update this post. If you have a suggestion, I would appreciate you contacting me. If you found this post on “Generative Linguistics” interesting, consider subscribing to KD Did It, if you’d like to track this post for future updates.

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Generative linguistics

Part of Speech: Linguistics

Definition: A modification of earlier structuralist theories, generative linguistics describes linguistic theories or models that produce sentences and which are based on the idea that a single set of rules can explain how all the possible sentences of a language are formed, i.e., generative grammar.

These rules tell you the order in which to put your words. For example, English, French, Standard Thai, and German put the subject of a sentence before its verb with the object at the end. In Arabic, the verb comes before the subject and the object at the end. In Japanese, the subject comes before the verb BUT the object is in the middle.

These rules do NOT tell you how to properly punctuate a sentence or not to split an infinitive.

It postulates that every language learner “knows” what the subject of a sentence is, even if they cannot define “subject”.

POST CONTENTS:

Prescriptive Grammar
Descriptive Grammar
Transformational Grammar
- Deep vs Surface Structure
  - Active vs Passive

A.k.a. anti-Skinnerian linguistics, Extended Standard Theory, generative grammar, generalized anti-behaviorism, generativism, Government and Binding Theory (GB), Minimalism (MP), Principles and Parameters approach (P&P), Standard Theory, Transformational Grammar (TG), Transformational Generative Grammar

Credit to: Generative-Arizona

Examples of Proper Generative Structure

Happy man is the.

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

The man strikes the brightly colored round object.

Prescriptive Grammar

Definition: Establishes formal/standardized language rules used in business, education, and other scholarly work, creating a common standard of usage.

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Some of the Rules of Prescriptive Grammar
Rule	Use With	Example
Use with mass nouns	less	less money ~~12 items or less~~
Use with count nouns	fewer	12 items or fewer There are fewer children here.
Do not passive voice		~~The meeting was held by the university.~~ The university held the meeting.
Avoid phrasal verbs		~~come over to have some tea~~ visit me to have some tea.

Descriptive Grammar

Definition: Establishes informal language rules that reflect how native English speakers actually speak in real life and includes the study of pidgins and dialects.

Credit to: Tamasi

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Some Examples of Descriptive vs Prescriptive Grammar
Descriptive	Prescriptive
I am younger than him.	I am younger than he.
He graduated American university.	He graduated from an American university.
I ain’t going nowhere. I’m not going anywhere.	I am not going anywhere.

Rule: Uses English adjective order: opinion, size, physical quality, shape, age, color, origin, material, type, and purpose.

This is a beautiful, small, green, American island.

That is a beautiful teal dress.

Panettone is a round, Italian, bread-like Christmas cake.

Now the house is sad, dark, and cold.

Transformational Grammar

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Definition: A system of language analysis developed in 1957 by Noam Chompsky that uses processes or rules to express the relationship with different parts of a sentence.

Chomsky theorizes that “all languages are based on the same set of universal principles . . . [and] . . . is a product of evolution. That human children are born with a specific representational adaptation for language.

Generative linguistics evolved from Chomsky’s transformational grammar.

Deep vs Surface Structure
- Active vs Passive

A.k.a. transformational-generative grammar, universal grammar

Credit to: Editors

Deep vs Surface Structure

Definition: Deep structure is what you wish to express and surface structure is how you express it with the help of words and sentence.

Credit to: Shah

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Deep	Surface
I know a man. The man flies airplanes.	I know a man who flies planes.
Airplanes can be dangerous when they fly. To fly airplanes can be dangerous.	Flying airplanes can be dangerous.
My children are handicapped, and/or My spouse’s parents are handicapped. Treat my children favorably, or Treat my children unfavorably.	My spouse’s parents treat my children differently.
The aunts that visit you are a bore, or You visiting your aunts can be a bore.	Visiting aunts can be a bore.

Active vs Passive

Definition: Demonstrates that active and passive sentences are very similar.

I see this as a category under Deep vs Surface Structure.

Active	Passive
John read the book.	The book was read by John.
The dog chases the ball.	The ball is being chased by the dog. It was the ball the dog chased.
Janey likes birdwatching.	Birdwatching is an activity liked by Janey.
The storm destroyed the roofs of many houses. A wild, howling storm blowing with a speed of 100 mph and more destroyed many houses.	The roofs of many houses were destroyed by the storm.

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C’mon, get it out of your system, bitch, whine, moan . . . which words are your pet peeves? Also, please note that I try to be as accurate as I can, but mistakes happen or I miss something. Email me if you find errors, so I can fix them . . . and we’ll all benefit!

Satisfy your curiosity about other Linguistics posts by exploring its homepage or more generally explore the index of self-editing posts. You may also want to explore Book Layout & Formatting Ideas, Formatting Tips, Grammar Explanations, the Properly Punctuated, Word Confusions, Writing Ideas and Resources, and Working Your Website.

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Resources for Generative Linguistics

Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I will earn a small percentage, if you should buy it. It does not affect the price you pay.

Chomsky, Noam. Syntactic Structures. Mouton & Company, The Hague: 1957. Martino Fine Books: 2015. <https://amzn.to/3YlJkVg&gr;.

Collins Dictionary: generative linguistics

Editors. “Transformational Grammar. Encyclopaedia Britannica. <https://www.britannica.com/topic/transformational-grammar>.

“Generative Grammar.” chapt 1. Linguistics. College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. University of Arizona. n.d. Web. 5 Feb 2023. <https://linguistics.arizona.edu/sites/linguistics.arizona.edu/files/3.Carnie%20Chapter1%20Introduction.pdf>.

“Generative Grammar.” Wikipedia. 1 Sept 2021. Web. 4 Sept 2021. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_grammar>.

“Generative Linguistics.” Psychology Wiki. n.d. Web. 3 Feb 2023. <https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Generative_linguistics>.

Lapham, Jane. “What Is Generative Linguistics?” Language Humanities.org. 26 Jan 2023. Web. 3 Feb 2023. <https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-generative-linguistics.htm>.

mvmulone. “Noam Chomsky and Generativism.” Genially. 10 May 2021. Web. 5 Feb 2023. <https://view.genial.ly/60994d015189fb0cf0e04dfa/presentation-noam-chomsky-and-generativism>. Slideshow.

Nordquist, Richard. “Generative Grammar: Definition and Examples.” ThoughtCo.com. 22 Mar 2020. Web. 3 Feb 2023. <https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-generative-grammar-1690894>.

“Prescriptive and Descriptive Grammar.” OSU Writing Center. Oklahoma State University. n.d. Web. 5 Feb 2023. <https://osuwritingcenter.okstate.edu/blog/2020/10/30/prescriptive-and-descriptive-grammar>.

Quaßdorf, Sixta. “Different Approaches to Word Order in Generative and Functional Grammar.” University of Basel. GRIN Verlag. 2002. Web. 5 Feb 2023. <https://www.grin.com/document/108238>.

Shah, Nitin. “Effective Interviewing with Meta Model – Surface Structure vs Deep Structure.” Institute of Clinical Hypnosis. n.d. Web. 5 Feb 2023. <https://instituteofclinicalhypnosis.com/nlp/difference-between-deep-and-surface-structure-nlp/>.

Tamasi, Susan and Lamont Antieau. Language and Linguistic Diversity in the US: An Introduction. Rutledge: 2014. <https://amzn.to/3jDIFj8>. Ebook.

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