1
Q
What is syntax
A
The putting of words together to make sentences and phrases
2
Q
Goal of syntax
A
- Make explicit what speakers know implicitly
- discover rules common to all languages
- discover constructions that are possible and impossible in the world’s languages
3
Q
What counts as syntactic evidence
A
- Native speaker implicit knowledge
- naturally occurring discourse
4
Q
What does the functionalist/usage-based approach argue?
A
language can be explained by general cognitive abilities (not language-specific ones) and external factors
5
Q
Define synchronic v. diachronic
A
synchronic: Looks at rules and properties of language at a given point in time
diachronic: looks at how rules have changed over time by comparing uses over time
6
Q
Generative theories assume…
A
language is “generated” on the spot and is interested in unraveling the principles underlying that process
7
Q
Functionalist theories assume…
A
language is “retrieved” and that syntactic patterns emerge from routinized language use
