Helena Sanson
- Published in print:
- 2011
- Published Online:
- January 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780197264836
- eISBN:
- 9780191754043
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- British Academy
- DOI:
- 10.5871/bacad/9780197264836.003.0008
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Historical Linguistics
This chapter presents some concluding thoughts from the author. The end of the nineteenth century was a further landmark in women's long battle for the literary, and now also national, language and ...
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This chapter presents some concluding thoughts from the author. The end of the nineteenth century was a further landmark in women's long battle for the literary, and now also national, language and its grammar. The journey started with Nicostrata holding a hornbook and a key to access a symbolic tower (that of learning) from which she herself was excluded. It continued in the Cinquecento with the female addressees of some of the first vernacular grammars and with the refined portraits of women readers, such as Lucrezia Panciatichi and Maria del Berrettaio. In the Settecento they were followed by Pietro Longhi's ‘dame’, so eager to learn and instruct themselves, and with a preference for anything fashionable and French. But alongside these figures, fixed forever in time by the artist's paint and brush or the writer's pen, there were those women for whom, over the centuries and across the peninsula, acquiring even just a smattering of literacy was a small victory.Less
This chapter presents some concluding thoughts from the author. The end of the nineteenth century was a further landmark in women's long battle for the literary, and now also national, language and its grammar. The journey started with Nicostrata holding a hornbook and a key to access a symbolic tower (that of learning) from which she herself was excluded. It continued in the Cinquecento with the female addressees of some of the first vernacular grammars and with the refined portraits of women readers, such as Lucrezia Panciatichi and Maria del Berrettaio. In the Settecento they were followed by Pietro Longhi's ‘dame’, so eager to learn and instruct themselves, and with a preference for anything fashionable and French. But alongside these figures, fixed forever in time by the artist's paint and brush or the writer's pen, there were those women for whom, over the centuries and across the peninsula, acquiring even just a smattering of literacy was a small victory.
Enoch Oladé Aboh
- Published in print:
- 2004
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780195159905
- eISBN:
- 9780199788125
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195159905.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book examines the syntax of the Niger-Conger language family, which includes most of the languages of sub-Saharan Africa. The book's author, who is a native speaker of Gungbe — one of the ...
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This book examines the syntax of the Niger-Conger language family, which includes most of the languages of sub-Saharan Africa. The book's author, who is a native speaker of Gungbe — one of the languages discussed — analyses different aspects of the syntax of the ‘Kwa’ language group. The book discusses how grammatical pictures for these languages can shed some light on Universal Grammar in general.Less
This book examines the syntax of the Niger-Conger language family, which includes most of the languages of sub-Saharan Africa. The book's author, who is a native speaker of Gungbe — one of the languages discussed — analyses different aspects of the syntax of the ‘Kwa’ language group. The book discusses how grammatical pictures for these languages can shed some light on Universal Grammar in general.
Wolfram Hinzen
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199289257
- eISBN:
- 9780191706424
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199289257.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Syntax and Morphology
This book introduces generative grammar as an area of study, asking what it tells us about the human mind. It lays the foundation for the unification of modern generative linguistics with the ...
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This book introduces generative grammar as an area of study, asking what it tells us about the human mind. It lays the foundation for the unification of modern generative linguistics with the philosophies of mind and language. It introduces Chomsky's program of a ‘minimalist’ syntax as a novel explanatory vision of the human mind. It explains how the Minimalist Program originated from work in cognitive science, biology, linguistics, and philosophy, and examines its implications for work in these fields. It also considers the way the human mind is designed when seen as an arrangement of structural patterns in nature, and argues that its design is the product not so much of adaptive evolutionary history as of principles and processes that are historical and internalist in character. The book suggests that linguistic meaning arises in the mind as a consequence of structures emerging on formal rather than functional grounds. From this, the book substantiates an unexpected and deeply unfashionable notion of human nature. It also provides an insight into the nature and aims of Chomsky's Minimalist Program.Less
This book introduces generative grammar as an area of study, asking what it tells us about the human mind. It lays the foundation for the unification of modern generative linguistics with the philosophies of mind and language. It introduces Chomsky's program of a ‘minimalist’ syntax as a novel explanatory vision of the human mind. It explains how the Minimalist Program originated from work in cognitive science, biology, linguistics, and philosophy, and examines its implications for work in these fields. It also considers the way the human mind is designed when seen as an arrangement of structural patterns in nature, and argues that its design is the product not so much of adaptive evolutionary history as of principles and processes that are historical and internalist in character. The book suggests that linguistic meaning arises in the mind as a consequence of structures emerging on formal rather than functional grounds. From this, the book substantiates an unexpected and deeply unfashionable notion of human nature. It also provides an insight into the nature and aims of Chomsky's Minimalist Program.
Adele Goldberg
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199268511
- eISBN:
- 9780191708428
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199268511.003.0011
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics
This chapter provides a brief summary of preceding chapters, observing that the constructionist approach directly undermines the need for biologically determined knowledge that is specific to ...
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This chapter provides a brief summary of preceding chapters, observing that the constructionist approach directly undermines the need for biologically determined knowledge that is specific to language (universal grammar). Generalizations are best described by analysing surface structure instead of positing an underlying level of representation (Chapter 2). The generalizations of language, like generalizations in other cognitive domains, are formed on the basis of instance-based knowledge that is retained (Chapter 3). Children are able to learn certain kinds of generalizations quite quickly, with skewed input like that commonly found in natural language playing a facilitory role (Chapter 4). Generalizations can be constrained by the indirect negative evidence children receive involving statistical preemption of non-occurring patterns (Chapter 5). Generalizations at the level of argument structure are made because they are useful, both in predicting meaning and in on-line production (Chapter 6). Classic island and scope phenomena can be accounted for by recognizing the discourse function of the constructions involved (Chapter 7). Generalizations that appear to be purely syntactic are at least sometimes better analysed in terms of constructions insofar as a patterns' distribution is typically conditioned by its functional role (Chapter 8). Cross-linguistic generalizations can be accounted for by appealing to pragmatic, cognitive, and processing facts that are independently required, without any stipulations that are specific to language (Chapter 9).Less
This chapter provides a brief summary of preceding chapters, observing that the constructionist approach directly undermines the need for biologically determined knowledge that is specific to language (universal grammar). Generalizations are best described by analysing surface structure instead of positing an underlying level of representation (Chapter 2). The generalizations of language, like generalizations in other cognitive domains, are formed on the basis of instance-based knowledge that is retained (Chapter 3). Children are able to learn certain kinds of generalizations quite quickly, with skewed input like that commonly found in natural language playing a facilitory role (Chapter 4). Generalizations can be constrained by the indirect negative evidence children receive involving statistical preemption of non-occurring patterns (Chapter 5). Generalizations at the level of argument structure are made because they are useful, both in predicting meaning and in on-line production (Chapter 6). Classic island and scope phenomena can be accounted for by recognizing the discourse function of the constructions involved (Chapter 7). Generalizations that appear to be purely syntactic are at least sometimes better analysed in terms of constructions insofar as a patterns' distribution is typically conditioned by its functional role (Chapter 8). Cross-linguistic generalizations can be accounted for by appealing to pragmatic, cognitive, and processing facts that are independently required, without any stipulations that are specific to language (Chapter 9).
Andreas Herberg‐Rothe
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- May 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199202690
- eISBN:
- 9780191707834
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199202690.003.0007
- Subject:
- Political Science, International Relations and Politics
The problem with Clausewitz's world-renowned formula depends on an internal tension within his concept of policy/politics. This tension invalidates neither his formula nor his theory, but it has to ...
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The problem with Clausewitz's world-renowned formula depends on an internal tension within his concept of policy/politics. This tension invalidates neither his formula nor his theory, but it has to be unfolded in order that the formula could serve as an analytical tool. Otherwise, the formula would become a dogma. Clausewitz emphasized this fundamental tension only indirectly by saying that war is the continuation of policy, but with ‘other means’. Peter Paret has clearly revealed this tension by declaring: ‘The readiness to fight and the readiness to compromise lie at the core of politics’. By following up this tension in Clausewitz's work, this chapter introduces a ‘small’ change in the understanding of what Clausewitz endorses with a ‘state’: nothing else than any kind of community. By taking this ‘small’ change into account, it argues that Clausewitz's trinity enables a general theory of war.Less
The problem with Clausewitz's world-renowned formula depends on an internal tension within his concept of policy/politics. This tension invalidates neither his formula nor his theory, but it has to be unfolded in order that the formula could serve as an analytical tool. Otherwise, the formula would become a dogma. Clausewitz emphasized this fundamental tension only indirectly by saying that war is the continuation of policy, but with ‘other means’. Peter Paret has clearly revealed this tension by declaring: ‘The readiness to fight and the readiness to compromise lie at the core of politics’. By following up this tension in Clausewitz's work, this chapter introduces a ‘small’ change in the understanding of what Clausewitz endorses with a ‘state’: nothing else than any kind of community. By taking this ‘small’ change into account, it argues that Clausewitz's trinity enables a general theory of war.
James P. Blevins and Juliette Blevins (eds)
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- September 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780199547548
- eISBN:
- 9780191720628
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199547548.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Psycholinguistics / Neurolinguistics / Cognitive Linguistics, Computational Linguistics
Analogy is a central component of language structure, language processing, and language change. This book addresses central questions about the form and acquisition of analogy in grammar. What ...
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Analogy is a central component of language structure, language processing, and language change. This book addresses central questions about the form and acquisition of analogy in grammar. What patterns of structural similarity do speakers select as the basis for analogical extension? What types of items are particularly susceptible or resistant to analogical pressures? At what levels do analogical processes operate and how do processes interact? What formal mechanisms are appropriate for modeling analogy? What analogical processes are evident in language acquisition? Answers to these questions emerge from this book which is a synthesis of typological, experimental, computational, and developmental paradigms.Less
Analogy is a central component of language structure, language processing, and language change. This book addresses central questions about the form and acquisition of analogy in grammar. What patterns of structural similarity do speakers select as the basis for analogical extension? What types of items are particularly susceptible or resistant to analogical pressures? At what levels do analogical processes operate and how do processes interact? What formal mechanisms are appropriate for modeling analogy? What analogical processes are evident in language acquisition? Answers to these questions emerge from this book which is a synthesis of typological, experimental, computational, and developmental paradigms.
Roger W. Shuy
- Published in print:
- 2009
- Published Online:
- February 2010
- ISBN:
- 9780195391329
- eISBN:
- 9780199866274
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195391329.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Sociolinguistics / Anthropological Linguistics
This book shows how linguistic analysis can be useful to lawyers on either sides of defamation lawsuits. It gives a brief overview of the parts of defamation law that linguistics can address, and ...
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This book shows how linguistic analysis can be useful to lawyers on either sides of defamation lawsuits. It gives a brief overview of the parts of defamation law that linguistics can address, and then illustrates how phonetics, grammar, semantics, speech acts, pragmatics, conveyed meaning, and lexical choices were used in eleven defamation cases. The book also assesses what progress has been made from the early days in which language disputes were settled by bloody duels to the modern days of their replacement by libel and slander lawsuits.Less
This book shows how linguistic analysis can be useful to lawyers on either sides of defamation lawsuits. It gives a brief overview of the parts of defamation law that linguistics can address, and then illustrates how phonetics, grammar, semantics, speech acts, pragmatics, conveyed meaning, and lexical choices were used in eleven defamation cases. The book also assesses what progress has been made from the early days in which language disputes were settled by bloody duels to the modern days of their replacement by libel and slander lawsuits.
J.L. Austin
- Published in print:
- 1975
- Published Online:
- October 2011
- ISBN:
- 9780198245537
- eISBN:
- 9780191680861
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198245537.001.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This work sets out the author's conclusions in the field to which he directed his main efforts for at least the last ten years of his life. Starting from an examination of his already well-known ...
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This work sets out the author's conclusions in the field to which he directed his main efforts for at least the last ten years of his life. Starting from an examination of his already well-known distinction between performative utterances and statements, he finally abandons that distinction, replacing it with a more general theory of ‘illocutionary forces’ of utterances, which has important bearings on a wide variety of philosophical problems.Less
This work sets out the author's conclusions in the field to which he directed his main efforts for at least the last ten years of his life. Starting from an examination of his already well-known distinction between performative utterances and statements, he finally abandons that distinction, replacing it with a more general theory of ‘illocutionary forces’ of utterances, which has important bearings on a wide variety of philosophical problems.
Philip Burton
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199266227
- eISBN:
- 9780191709098
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199266227.003.0003
- Subject:
- Religion, Early Christian Studies
This chapter considers Augustine's use of Greek and Latin terminology in the technical register of the Seven Liberal Arts (grammar, rhetoric, dialect, arithmetic, geometry, music, and philosophy). It ...
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This chapter considers Augustine's use of Greek and Latin terminology in the technical register of the Seven Liberal Arts (grammar, rhetoric, dialect, arithmetic, geometry, music, and philosophy). It is argued that despite his notional assent to the equality of all languages, Augustine in practice often uses Greek to express a liberal art when viewed negatively. At the same time, he takes advantage of the wider semantic range of the different Latin translations to demystify the arts, encouraging his reader to see them not as the prerogative of the educated few, but as something capable of being practised in the everyday life of everyone.Less
This chapter considers Augustine's use of Greek and Latin terminology in the technical register of the Seven Liberal Arts (grammar, rhetoric, dialect, arithmetic, geometry, music, and philosophy). It is argued that despite his notional assent to the equality of all languages, Augustine in practice often uses Greek to express a liberal art when viewed negatively. At the same time, he takes advantage of the wider semantic range of the different Latin translations to demystify the arts, encouraging his reader to see them not as the prerogative of the educated few, but as something capable of being practised in the everyday life of everyone.
Kees Hengeveld and J. Lachlan Mackenzie
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- September 2008
- ISBN:
- 9780199278107
- eISBN:
- 9780191707797
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199278107.001.0001
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Psycholinguistics / Neurolinguistics / Cognitive Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics
This book presents Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG). Chapter 1 gives an overall picture of the model and places it in the context of contemporary linguistics. Chapter 2 presents the interpersonal ...
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This book presents Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG). Chapter 1 gives an overall picture of the model and places it in the context of contemporary linguistics. Chapter 2 presents the interpersonal level of the grammar, at which the Discourse Act, the central object of FDG, is analysed. Chapter 3 is a systematic account of the representational level, where semantic distinctions are located. Chapter 4 is concerned with the morphosyntactic level and Chapter 5 with the phonological level; these show how FDG treats formal distinctions across languages. The book ends with Chapter 6, an application of the theory to sample Discourse Acts.Less
This book presents Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG). Chapter 1 gives an overall picture of the model and places it in the context of contemporary linguistics. Chapter 2 presents the interpersonal level of the grammar, at which the Discourse Act, the central object of FDG, is analysed. Chapter 3 is a systematic account of the representational level, where semantic distinctions are located. Chapter 4 is concerned with the morphosyntactic level and Chapter 5 with the phonological level; these show how FDG treats formal distinctions across languages. The book ends with Chapter 6, an application of the theory to sample Discourse Acts.
David Albert Jones
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199213009
- eISBN:
- 9780191707179
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199213009.003.0002
- Subject:
- Religion, Church History
This chapter describes the process of recruitment, selection, and examination of ordination candidates by bishops and their advisers. It examines the social and geographical backgrounds from which ...
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This chapter describes the process of recruitment, selection, and examination of ordination candidates by bishops and their advisers. It examines the social and geographical backgrounds from which the clergy were drawn. It describes the education of clergy at grammar and free schools and at the universities. It examines the specific training for ordination that was provided for them and how provision was made for poor candidates — mostly from geographically remote areas — unable to attend one of the universities, and new developments in training during the 1830s. The means by which prospective clergy secured their first posts is discussed, and the means provided to encourage them to continue their theological studies.Less
This chapter describes the process of recruitment, selection, and examination of ordination candidates by bishops and their advisers. It examines the social and geographical backgrounds from which the clergy were drawn. It describes the education of clergy at grammar and free schools and at the universities. It examines the specific training for ordination that was provided for them and how provision was made for poor candidates — mostly from geographically remote areas — unable to attend one of the universities, and new developments in training during the 1830s. The means by which prospective clergy secured their first posts is discussed, and the means provided to encourage them to continue their theological studies.
Francesca Aran Murphy
- Published in print:
- 2007
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199219285
- eISBN:
- 9780191711664
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199219285.003.0001
- Subject:
- Religion, Theology
This introductory chapter categorizes narrative theology as a whole as movie-like. It traces the origins of narrative theologies to the transcendental Thomism of Bernard Lonergan. It divides ...
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This introductory chapter categorizes narrative theology as a whole as movie-like. It traces the origins of narrative theologies to the transcendental Thomism of Bernard Lonergan. It divides narrative theologians into three groups: story Barthianism (Lindbeck and Frei, grammatical Thomism (McCabe, Burrell and Turner), and story Thomism (Robert Jenson). It notes that a particular legacy of both Thomism and Barthianism to narrative theologies is a recoil from historicity or temporality.Less
This introductory chapter categorizes narrative theology as a whole as movie-like. It traces the origins of narrative theologies to the transcendental Thomism of Bernard Lonergan. It divides narrative theologians into three groups: story Barthianism (Lindbeck and Frei, grammatical Thomism (McCabe, Burrell and Turner), and story Thomism (Robert Jenson). It notes that a particular legacy of both Thomism and Barthianism to narrative theologies is a recoil from historicity or temporality.
Michael Devitt
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199250967
- eISBN:
- 9780191603945
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199250960.003.0002
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This chapter argues against Chomsky’s view that linguistics is a branch of psychology, and hence concerns a psychological reality: the speaker’s linguistic competence. With the help of three quite ...
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This chapter argues against Chomsky’s view that linguistics is a branch of psychology, and hence concerns a psychological reality: the speaker’s linguistic competence. With the help of three quite general distinctions, including that between structure rules and processing rules, and between being a structure rule and “respecting” one, it is argued that there is something other than psychological reality for a grammar to be true of: it can be true of a linguistic reality. Given the weight of evidence, it is plausible that the grammar is indeed more or less true of that reality. The grammar might also be true of a psychological reality, but to show that it is so requires further psychological assumption. It will prove hard to establish a psychological assumption that will do the trick.Less
This chapter argues against Chomsky’s view that linguistics is a branch of psychology, and hence concerns a psychological reality: the speaker’s linguistic competence. With the help of three quite general distinctions, including that between structure rules and processing rules, and between being a structure rule and “respecting” one, it is argued that there is something other than psychological reality for a grammar to be true of: it can be true of a linguistic reality. Given the weight of evidence, it is plausible that the grammar is indeed more or less true of that reality. The grammar might also be true of a psychological reality, but to show that it is so requires further psychological assumption. It will prove hard to establish a psychological assumption that will do the trick.
Michael Devitt
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199250967
- eISBN:
- 9780191603945
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199250960.003.0003
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This chapter describes possible positions on psychological reality, on linguistic competence, that vary according to whether or not the rules of the language are embodied in the mind; to whether or ...
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This chapter describes possible positions on psychological reality, on linguistic competence, that vary according to whether or not the rules of the language are embodied in the mind; to whether or not some processing rules for language are represented in the mind; and to whether or not some processing rules operate on metalinguistic representations of syntactic and semantic properties of linguistic items. The uncontroversial minimal position — committed only to there being a psychological reality that “respects” the linguistic rules — is the most that can be sustained without some powerful psychological assumption that is independent of anything revealed by the grammar of a language.Less
This chapter describes possible positions on psychological reality, on linguistic competence, that vary according to whether or not the rules of the language are embodied in the mind; to whether or not some processing rules for language are represented in the mind; and to whether or not some processing rules operate on metalinguistic representations of syntactic and semantic properties of linguistic items. The uncontroversial minimal position — committed only to there being a psychological reality that “respects” the linguistic rules — is the most that can be sustained without some powerful psychological assumption that is independent of anything revealed by the grammar of a language.
Michael Devitt
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199250967
- eISBN:
- 9780191603945
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199250960.003.0007
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This chapter starts by arguing against the received view that the intuitive judgments of speakers are the main evidence for a grammar. Still, they are evidence and an explanation for this is ...
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This chapter starts by arguing against the received view that the intuitive judgments of speakers are the main evidence for a grammar. Still, they are evidence and an explanation for this is required. The Chomskian explanation involves the Representational Thesis (RT): that intuitions are derived by a rational process from a representation of linguistic rules in the language faculty, a representation that constitutes the speaker’s linguistic competence. The chapter argues for a different view of intuitions in general, and hence of linguistic intuitions: they do not reflect information supplied by represented or even unrepresented rules in the language faculty. Rather, they are empirical central-processor responses to linguistic phenomena differing from other such responses only in being fairly immediate and unreflective.Less
This chapter starts by arguing against the received view that the intuitive judgments of speakers are the main evidence for a grammar. Still, they are evidence and an explanation for this is required. The Chomskian explanation involves the Representational Thesis (RT): that intuitions are derived by a rational process from a representation of linguistic rules in the language faculty, a representation that constitutes the speaker’s linguistic competence. The chapter argues for a different view of intuitions in general, and hence of linguistic intuitions: they do not reflect information supplied by represented or even unrepresented rules in the language faculty. Rather, they are empirical central-processor responses to linguistic phenomena differing from other such responses only in being fairly immediate and unreflective.
A. A. Long
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- January 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199279128
- eISBN:
- 9780191706769
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199279128.003.0012
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Ancient Philosophy
Stoics were enormously influential on the Graeco-Roman grammatical tradition, which extends from the later Hellenistic epoch into the Christian period of the Roman Empire. Recourse to the Stoic ...
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Stoics were enormously influential on the Graeco-Roman grammatical tradition, which extends from the later Hellenistic epoch into the Christian period of the Roman Empire. Recourse to the Stoic influence on that tradition can give the impression that these philosophers were merely pioneers in starting what the grammarians carried forward more fully and systematically. It is argued that such an impression may be seriously misleading in two respects. First, it incorrectly implies that the Stoics approached language as a phenomenon callingprimarilyfor the kind of grammatical and syntactical description later grammarians developed. Secondly, it fails to identify the philosophical considerations that underpin the Stoics' principal interests in language. It is shown that the Stoics had some splendid intuitions about the phonetic, grammatical, and semantic levels of linguistic structure. Although these bear directly on the development of traditional grammar, they also seem to have clear affinities with what modern experts in linguistics call universal grammar.Less
Stoics were enormously influential on the Graeco-Roman grammatical tradition, which extends from the later Hellenistic epoch into the Christian period of the Roman Empire. Recourse to the Stoic influence on that tradition can give the impression that these philosophers were merely pioneers in starting what the grammarians carried forward more fully and systematically. It is argued that such an impression may be seriously misleading in two respects. First, it incorrectly implies that the Stoics approached language as a phenomenon callingprimarilyfor the kind of grammatical and syntactical description later grammarians developed. Secondly, it fails to identify the philosophical considerations that underpin the Stoics' principal interests in language. It is shown that the Stoics had some splendid intuitions about the phonetic, grammatical, and semantic levels of linguistic structure. Although these bear directly on the development of traditional grammar, they also seem to have clear affinities with what modern experts in linguistics call universal grammar.
John M. Anderson
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199297078
- eISBN:
- 9780191711404
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199297078.003.0013
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Semantics and Pragmatics
This final chapter draws together some of the main themes of the book, clustered around the notion of ‘case’, drawing out some consequences of the discussion. In particular, it points out the ...
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This final chapter draws together some of the main themes of the book, clustered around the notion of ‘case’, drawing out some consequences of the discussion. In particular, it points out the correction given by the pursuit of these themes to the prevalent perceived history of the status of semantic relations, and formulates the overall contention of the book that a notional case grammar provides an insightful and explanatory account of a wide range of phenomena, without appeal to the abstractions attendant on ‘universal grammar’. Crucial to the pursuit of such a non-abstract grammar is a categorially rich lexical structure, and various aspects of this structure are brought together and elaborated. Such a view of lexical structure promises to provide some understanding of linguistic creativity (and its routinization), whose primary locus is the lexicon.Less
This final chapter draws together some of the main themes of the book, clustered around the notion of ‘case’, drawing out some consequences of the discussion. In particular, it points out the correction given by the pursuit of these themes to the prevalent perceived history of the status of semantic relations, and formulates the overall contention of the book that a notional case grammar provides an insightful and explanatory account of a wide range of phenomena, without appeal to the abstractions attendant on ‘universal grammar’. Crucial to the pursuit of such a non-abstract grammar is a categorially rich lexical structure, and various aspects of this structure are brought together and elaborated. Such a view of lexical structure promises to provide some understanding of linguistic creativity (and its routinization), whose primary locus is the lexicon.
Adele Goldberg
- Published in print:
- 2005
- Published Online:
- September 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199268511
- eISBN:
- 9780191708428
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199268511.003.0010
- Subject:
- Linguistics, Theoretical Linguistics
This chapter briefly surveys various constructionist approaches, comparing and contrasting several closely related frameworks. In addition, certain mainstream generative grammar approaches that have ...
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This chapter briefly surveys various constructionist approaches, comparing and contrasting several closely related frameworks. In addition, certain mainstream generative grammar approaches that have also argued for relating semantics to formal structures are critiqued. It is argued that the generative proposals underestimate the necessity of item-specific meaning; a combination of morphologically specific and constructional generalizations are required to account for the richness and complexity of language.Less
This chapter briefly surveys various constructionist approaches, comparing and contrasting several closely related frameworks. In addition, certain mainstream generative grammar approaches that have also argued for relating semantics to formal structures are critiqued. It is argued that the generative proposals underestimate the necessity of item-specific meaning; a combination of morphologically specific and constructional generalizations are required to account for the richness and complexity of language.
Michael Devitt
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- September 2006
- ISBN:
- 9780199250967
- eISBN:
- 9780191603945
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0199250960.003.0012
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This chapter takes the familiar arguments for nativism to establish the interesting nativist thesis that “the initial state” of linguistic competence is sufficiently rich that humans can naturally ...
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This chapter takes the familiar arguments for nativism to establish the interesting nativist thesis that “the initial state” of linguistic competence is sufficiently rich that humans can naturally learn only languages that conform to the rules specified by “Universal Grammar” (the UG-rules). It rejects Fodor’s “only-theory-in-town” abduction for the very exciting “I-Representational Thesis”, the thesis that the UG-rules are represented in the initial state. It argues that this thesis lacks significant evidence and is implausible. The chapter also argues for some tentative proposals: that the UG-rules are, largely if not entirely, innate structure rules of thought, a proposal resting on the Language-of-Thought Hypothesis (LOTH); that if LOTH is false, then the UG-rules are not, in a robust way, innate in a speaker; and that there is little or nothing to the language faculty. The chapter concludes the book-long argument that there is no significant evidence for the Representational Thesis (RT) and that it is implausible.Less
This chapter takes the familiar arguments for nativism to establish the interesting nativist thesis that “the initial state” of linguistic competence is sufficiently rich that humans can naturally learn only languages that conform to the rules specified by “Universal Grammar” (the UG-rules). It rejects Fodor’s “only-theory-in-town” abduction for the very exciting “I-Representational Thesis”, the thesis that the UG-rules are represented in the initial state. It argues that this thesis lacks significant evidence and is implausible. The chapter also argues for some tentative proposals: that the UG-rules are, largely if not entirely, innate structure rules of thought, a proposal resting on the Language-of-Thought Hypothesis (LOTH); that if LOTH is false, then the UG-rules are not, in a robust way, innate in a speaker; and that there is little or nothing to the language faculty. The chapter concludes the book-long argument that there is no significant evidence for the Representational Thesis (RT) and that it is implausible.
Charles Travis
- Published in print:
- 2006
- Published Online:
- January 2007
- ISBN:
- 9780199291465
- eISBN:
- 9780191710667
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199291465.003.0004
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Language
This chapter compares Wittgenstein's pre-Grammar view of logic with his view of it in the Investigations. Among other things, it paves the way for the discussion of bearing a truth-value which occurs ...
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This chapter compares Wittgenstein's pre-Grammar view of logic with his view of it in the Investigations. Among other things, it paves the way for the discussion of bearing a truth-value which occurs in §§134-37. The discussion here parallels very closely a discussion in the Grammar, but also takes a step beyond the Grammar. A common theme is that the notion proposition needs to get more determinate content from something about a particular application of it before it can begin to pick out anything like an extension.Less
This chapter compares Wittgenstein's pre-Grammar view of logic with his view of it in the Investigations. Among other things, it paves the way for the discussion of bearing a truth-value which occurs in §§134-37. The discussion here parallels very closely a discussion in the Grammar, but also takes a step beyond the Grammar. A common theme is that the notion proposition needs to get more determinate content from something about a particular application of it before it can begin to pick out anything like an extension.
