[B-Greek] B-Greek syntax trees and phrase structure rules

Elizabeth Kline kline_dekooning at earthlink.net
Sat Aug 12 01:08:09 EDT 2006


On Aug 11, 2006, at 9:44 PM, James Tauber wrote:

> One thing to note with the Chomskyan programme is that the
> focus is on what languages tell us about language not what language
> tells us about languages and so the application of Chomskyan models
> to understanding of specific texts is dubious, even to to Chomskyans.

I would tend to agree with this statement but I think that there were  
spinoffs from early generative/transformational models that were  
applied to understanding texts, for example some of E.A. Nida's  
translation theory was, if I am not mistaken, influenced by early  
transformational thought. I don't think you would have to look very  
hard to find others in applied linguistics (e.g. bible translators)  
who make some use of Chomsky (early middle or late).

Elizabeth Kline







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