Questions and Answers
Every sentence has a noun phrase subject and a verb phrase ______.
predicate
A sentence that deviates from grammatical rules is called ______.
ungrammatical
Every grammar is equally ______ and logical.
complex
Your language is not the one ______ if a rule for English does not agree with your intuitions.
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It can be expressed in any other language or ______.
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The sounds and sound patterns, the basic units of meaning, such as ______, and the rules to combine them to form new sentences constitute the grammar of a language.
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The grammar is what we know; it represents our linguistic ______.
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Every human being who speaks a language knows its ______.
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A model that describes the grammar of a language that exists in the minds of its speakers is called a ______ grammar.
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This internalized, unconscious set of rules is part of every grammar of every ______.
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A descriptive grammar explains how it is possible for you to ______ and understand.
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The Greek grammarian Dionysius Thrax defined grammar as that which permits us either to speak a ______ or to speak about a language.
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The linguist's descriptive grammar is an attempt at a formal statement (or ______) of the speakers' grammar.
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Study Notes
Understanding Descriptive Grammars
- Grammar encompasses sound patterns, units of meaning (words), and rules for sentence construction, representing linguistic competence.
- Internalized and unconscious rules of grammar are crucial for language comprehension and communication.
- Every individual fluent in a language possesses knowledge of its grammar, contributing to shared linguistic understanding despite individual differences.
- Linguists aim to model the speaker's internalized grammar through descriptive grammar, which reflects basic linguistic knowledge rather than prescriptive rules on how to speak.
- Descriptive grammar serves as a formal representation of the grammar present in speakers’ minds, emphasizing understanding and explanation of language use.
- Dionysius Thrax, a Greek grammarian, historically defined grammar as enabling both language use and discussion about language.
- A rule, such as “Every sentence has a noun phrase subject and a verb phrase predicate,” pertains to both mental grammar and its descriptive model.
- Sentences classified as grammatical align with rules established in both the descriptive and mental grammar frameworks.
- If a described rule contradicts a speaker's intuitions, it suggests a discrepancy between the grammatical model and the speaker’s internalized grammar.
- Linguistically, no language or dialect is deemed superior; all grammars are equally intricate and capable of expressing complex thoughts.
- Any thought expressible in one language or dialect can be conveyed in another, albeit through various expressions and vocabularies.
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of descriptive grammar, including sounds, sound patterns, and the rules for forming sentences in any language. This quiz delves into the internalized rules that govern linguistic competence. Test your understanding of how grammar shapes our communication.
