Grammar Flashcards
Is language constant?
Most struggle through shakespeare due to his unusual grammar, word use and pronunciation however he contributed 1700 words to the english language because he was the first to write them down e.g. elbow room
What are the 6 types of grammar?
Descriptive, pedagogical, reference, traditional, theoretical and prescriptive.
What is descriptive grammar?
Describes grammatical construction used in language
What is pedagogical language?
Used for foreign (or own) language teaching
What is reference grammar?
Comprehensive description of grammar for researchers
What is traditional grammar?
‘Tradition’ as in greek and roman grammarians
What is theoretical grammar?
Are there ‘universal’ human languages
What is prescriptive grammar?
Lays down rules for socially correct use of grammar - is there a correct way to speak?
What did Joseph Priestly say in relation to prescriptivism?
“The custom of speaking is the original and only just standard of any language”
What did Nancy Mitford do in Iran in the 1950s?
She was a socialite that determined class in an essay called u or non u. For example, in relation to vocabulary - do you eat vegetables or green.
What is syntactic structure?
Word order is given in each language
What is the word order in the english language?
Subject Verb Object (SVO)
Do English speakers stick to the rules of SVO?
VSO -> Govern tho my song - John Milton
OSV -> Strange fits of passion have I known -> Wordsworth
SOV -> Pensive poets painful vigils keep - Pope
What are semantics?
In the context of language it is the study of meanings.
What does word -> objects make?
Iconic relationships
