1
|
|
2
|
- We see things in terms that we already know.
- We discover what we expect to find.
- We need to be willing to discard wrong propositions, but we need to have
distinct notions to begin with.
|
3
|
- “Linguistic arguments have shown that an activity could be
rule-governed and yet infinitely free and creative” (p. 75, The
Linguistics Wars).
|
4
|
- “By a generative grammar I mean simply a system of rules that in some
explicit and well-defined way assigns structural descriptions to
sentences. . . . Perhaps the issue can be clarified by an analogy to a
part of chemical theory concerned with the structurally possible
compounds. This theory might be
said to generate all physically possible compounds just as a grammar
generates all grammatically ‘possible’ utterances” (Noam Chomsky, LW
39).
|
5
|
- Introduction to ‘deep structure’ (vs. 1957: ‘the kernel sentence’)
- Basic sentences in which transformations are imposed to get other
sentences.
|
6
|
- 1 per verb
- Relative & Coordinate Clause – more than one verb means more than
one kernel sentence.
|
7
|
- Why was Chomsky popular with English literature people?
- “He starts with the sentence … he promises to help crack meaning; and he
embraces the traditional grammars on the English professors’ shelves” (LW
75).
|
8
|
- Transformations have no semantic impact.
- Deep structure is simpler & more regular – it’s easier to get at.
|
9
|
- Potential Meaning vs. A Particular Meaning in Context
- Semantics – gives all possible meanings
- Pragmatics – chooses the appropriate reading
|
10
|
|
11
|
|
12
|
- “Everyone on Cormorant Island speaks two languages.”
- “Two languages are spoken by everyone on Cormorant Island.”
- Competence vs. Performance
- Selectional Restrictions
|
13
|
|
14
|
|
15
|
- What should the semantic component do?
- Selectional Restrictions: How to Cheat Badly
|
16
|
- Features (are they universal primitives?) – Schank conceptual dependency
- Metaphor
- Fixed Set?
|
17
|
- It would destroy the idea of autonomous syntax – there is no possible
way syntax is autonomous from semantics.
With more than one sense, it would include semantics.
- Is there one set of universals?
- Metaphors: dynamic metaphors are problems.
- Fixed Set: are there ways to add meanings?
|
18
|
|
19
|
|