Introduction to Linguistics

1. Introduction to Linguistics Ms. SuhaJawabreh Lecture 18

2. The Components of Language 1. Sounds – Phonetics and Phonology 2. Words – Morphology 3. Phrases and sentences- Syntax 4. Meaning- Semantics and Pragmatics

3. What is Grammar? Grammar is a set of rules that govern the composition of words, phrases and clauses.

4. -If we have the three words : boys, lucky and the , grammar will allow us to have : The lucky boys -This phrase would be referred to as grammatical. • However , the following combinations of words are referred to as ungrammatical. • *Boys the lucky - *lucky boys the

5. What are the types of grammar? 1. Mental grammar: -Mental grammar describes how speakers produce and understand linguistic expressions. • This grammar is sub-conscious and not the result of any teaching. • Psychologists study this type of grammar.

6. 2. Proper grammar -This type of grammar involves what would be considered as ‘ linguistic etiquette’. • It identifies what best structures to be used in a language. • Sociolinguists study this type of grammar.

7. 3. Language grammar -It involves the study and analysis of the structures found in a language. • Linguists study this type of grammar

8. Language Grammar There are two approaches which were used in grammatical description : 1. The prescriptive approach 2. The descriptive approach

9. Prescriptive approach • It involves labelling the grammatical categories in sentences ( traditional grammar) • It sets out rules for the correct or ‘proper’ use of a languge.

10. Traditional Grammar • In traditional grammar, many traditional terms are used in a grammatical description: Examples: Parts of speech , number, person , tense, voice, gender (natural gender & grammatical gender)

11. Prescriptive rules In this approach , grammarians decide what the correct use of language, not speakers of the language. Examples of prescriptive rules: • You must not split an infinitive. *to slowly drive b. You must not end a sentence with a preposition. *This is the girl I gave the book to.

12. Other examples that would be considered ‘improper’ to prescriptive grammarians: * Mary runs faster than me *Who did you see?

13. The Descriptive Approach A descriptive grammar looks at the way a language is actually used by its speakers and then attempts to analyse it and formulate rules about the structure. - Descriptive grammar does not deal with what is good or bad language use; forms and structures. - It is a grammar based on the way a language actually is and not how some think it should be.     

14. What is the difference between the descriptive approach and the prescriptive approach? - Unlike the descriptive approach, The prescriptive approach deals with what the grammarians believe to be right and wrong, good or bad language use; not following the rules will generate incorrect language.

15. Types of descriptive approach • Structural Analysis • Immediate constituent analysis.

16. Structural Analysis -This method involves the use of ‘ test-frames’ which can be sentences with empty slots in them: The ___________ makes a lot of noise. I heard a ____________ yesterday.

17. - There are a lot of forms that can fit into the slots. (E.g. Car ,dog, child ,radio). • All of these examples are NOUNS. • However, there are nouns that do not fit into these slots. (E.g. Cathy , it , the dog, the car) • Therefore , new test-frames are required: ______________ makes a lot of noise I heard ___________ yesterday.

18. Immediate Constituent Analysis • This approach involves dividing linguistic expressions into constituents: • 1. at the word level • 2. at the phrase level • 3. At the sentence level

19. Examples: • Mary ate an apple • The dog followed the boy • I left the book on the table

20. Another example: 1. Her father brought a shotgun to the wedding.