Understanding Generative Grammar/ Class 1: analysing sentences / The minimalist approach

Summary

This lecture introduces Chomsky's generative grammar through analyzing the sentence 'I like tennis.' It explains the concept of derivation, using labeled tree diagrams to represent sentence structure. The lecture covers technical terms like 'merger,' 'head,' and 'complement,' and discusses the binary parameter of head-first vs. head-last languages. It also touches on universal grammar, including the headedness principle that all phrases have a head. The class aims to build understanding of sentence analysis from a Chomskyan perspective.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Chomsky's Generative Grammar**: The class focuses on understanding Chomsky's approach to sentence analysis.
• 🌐 **Derivation**: Sentences are derived or analyzed to understand their structure.
• 🌳 **Tree Diagrams**: Sentence analysis is represented using tree diagrams with branches as lines.
• 🔄 **Metaphor**: The tree diagram is a metaphor for the hierarchical structure of sentences, shown upside-down.
• 🏋️ **Bottom-Up Analysis**: Sentences are analyzed from bottom to top, a method that will be explained further.
• 🔑 **Head and Complement**: The verb is the head of the verb phrase, with the complement being网球.
• 🔄 **Merger Operation**: The process of combining a head and a complement to form a phrase.
• 🌏 **Head-First Language**: English is a head-first language, meaning the head is on the left.
• 🔄 **Binary Parameters**: Languages differ parametrically, such as being head-first or head-last.
• 🔄 **Universal Grammar**: Principles of language that apply to all languages, like the headedness principle.
• 🔄 **Principles vs. Parameters**: While parameters vary, principles are universal truths about all languages.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the first class on Chomsky's generative grammar?

The main focus of the first class is to introduce students to the concept of deriving sentences using Chomsky's approach to sentence analysis.

What does the term 'derive' mean in the context of Chomsky's generative grammar?

In Chomsky's generative grammar, 'derive' refers to the process of analyzing or constructing sentences using a set of rules and transformations.

Why does the instructor start with sentence analysis right away?

Starting with sentence analysis allows students to see how sentences are derived or analyzed, which helps them understand the process and build confidence in their understanding of sentence analysis from a Chomskyan perspective.

What is a labeled tree diagram in the context of sentence analysis?

A labeled tree diagram is a visual representation of sentence structure, where the branches of a tree are represented by lines, showing the hierarchical structure of sentences.

Why is the tree diagram described as 'upside-down'?

The tree diagram is described as 'upside-down' because it is an uprooted tree that has been turned upside down to show the rule-governed hierarchical structure of sentences.

How is the direction of analysis in Chomsky's approach different from traditional grammar?

In Chomsky's approach, sentences are analyzed from bottom to top, whereas traditional grammar often analyzes from top to bottom.

What is the significance of the head of a phrase in Chomsky's generative grammar?

The head of a phrase is significant because it determines the nature of the phrase. In English, heads are always on the left, indicating that it is a head-first language.

What is a 'parameter' in the context of Chomsky's theory of language?

A 'parameter' in Chomsky's theory refers to the binary differences between languages, such as whether a language is head-first or head-last.

What is the 'headedness principle' in universal grammar?

The 'headedness principle' is a principle of universal grammar stating that all phrases should have a head, which is a universal feature across all languages.

What is the difference between a verb phrase and a tense phrase?

A verb phrase is formed by merging a verb and its complement, while a tense phrase involves the merger of a verb phrase with a tense constituent, such as 'do' in English.

Why is the instructor not analyzing long sentences in the first class?

The instructor is not analyzing long sentences in the first class to focus on the fundamental concepts of merger, head and complement functions, and the principles of universal grammar without the complexity of longer sentences.