The Arbitrary Basis of Transformational Grammar

Bibliographic Data

ID2890968
AuthorsGeorge Lakoff (0000-0002-8972-2856, Berkeley College, corresponding author)
Year1972
Volume48
Issue1
Pages76
Publication date1972-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLanguage (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0097-8507 • E-ISSN: 1535-0665
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/412491
OpenAlexW2067076567
LanguageEN
Citations received13
References cited1

Baker & Brame, in this issue of L anguage , correctly observe that, in three of the cases cited in my paper on global rules (Lakoff 1970), the effect of global rules can be obtained by the use of ad hoc coding mechanisms using arbitrary grammatical elements, in one case an infinite number of such elements. This raises the question of whether the elements used in grammatical descriptions should be arbitrary or whether they should have a natural basis. In addition, Baker & Brame incorrectly claim in three other cases to be able to handle global phenomena within the Aspects theory. In each case they use apparatus that goes beyond that theory. Moreover, they claim that a theory of global grammar is necessarily ‘more powerful’ than the Aspects theory and their proposed extensions. This is shown to be false

Basis (linear algebra) · Geometry · Grammar · Linguistics · Transformational grammar · Transformational leadership · Computer Science · Historical Linguistics and Language Studies · Mathematics · Natural Language Processing Techniques · Philosophy · Psychology · Social Psychology · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access