Minicurso - Questões de linguagem: passeio gramatical dirigido - Aula 1

Summary

In this lecture, the speaker discusses the distinction between two fundamental types of grammar: normative and descriptive. The speaker clarifies that normative grammar focuses on rules and correctness, while descriptive grammar aims to observe and describe how language is used without judging its correctness. The speaker also touches on comparative grammar, which contrasts different languages, and historical grammar, which looks at the evolution of words. Ultimately, the lecture emphasizes that descriptive grammar takes a scientific approach, akin to how botany studies plants, focusing on language structure without imposing value judgments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Grammar can be categorized into two main types: normative and descriptive.
• 😀 Normative grammar prescribes rules on what is considered correct or incorrect in language use.
• 😀 Descriptive grammar aims to objectively describe how language is used by speakers, without judging correctness.
• 😀 Normative grammar is often associated with formal settings where correctness is valued, such as in professional or academic contexts.
• 😀 Descriptive grammar is more scientific, describing language without imposing rules or judgments on its usage.
• 😀 The study of language includes various subfields, such as comparative grammar and historical grammar.
• 😀 Comparative grammar examines how different languages address the same linguistic concepts, like subject-verb agreement or pluralization.
• 😀 Historical grammar focuses on how languages evolve over time, tracking changes in words and grammatical structures.
• 😀 Grammar rules can overlap between normative and descriptive approaches, especially in areas like syntax and word formation.
• 😀 Understanding grammar is not only about following rules but also appreciating the dynamic and evolving nature of language.

Q & A

What are the two types of grammar mentioned in the script?

The two types of grammar discussed in the script are 'normative grammar' and 'descriptive grammar'.

What is the primary function of normative grammar?

Normative grammar teaches rules that should be followed in a language, such as grammar, syntax, and spelling rules. It defines what is considered 'correct' language use.

How does normative grammar differ from descriptive grammar?

While normative grammar focuses on defining rules for correct language use, descriptive grammar aims to describe how a language is used without judging what is correct or incorrect.

Why is there a difference between how grammar is taught in schools and how it is used in everyday life?

The script highlights that grammar taught in schools often follows normative rules, while in everyday life, language use is more flexible, and people are less concerned with adhering strictly to these rules.

What is a key example of normative grammar rules discussed in the script?

The rules of orthography (how words should be written) and concordance (how verbs agree with their subjects) are key examples of normative grammar.

How does descriptive grammar contribute to understanding a language?

Descriptive grammar focuses on explaining how a language works, such as the structure of words, sentence formation, and how different languages express similar ideas in varying ways.

What is a historical perspective of grammar, as mentioned in the script?

A historical perspective of grammar, or historical grammar, looks at how the forms and structures of words have changed over time across languages.

What is grammar comparada (comparative grammar), and what does it do?

Comparative grammar compares two languages, focusing on the same topics or structures to highlight differences and similarities in grammar usage.

How does the script relate the study of grammar to the field of botany?

The script compares descriptive grammar to botany by explaining that both fields observe and describe phenomena without making judgments on their 'beauty' or 'correctness'. Descriptive grammar simply observes and describes language use.

What criticism did the first version of the Common National Curriculum Base face regarding grammar?

The criticism was that the curriculum's approach to teaching grammar was overly practical and failed to emphasize the normative rules, leading to confusion about what is 'correct' grammar.