Carnie begins by providing an overview of
syntax and making distinctions that will be relevant further on throughout the
book, such as distinguishing between prescriptive and descriptive rules of
grammar. Similarly, Carnie highlights distinctions between various different
sources of data. The reason for his doing this is to set a platform so that he
can apply the ‘scientific method’ to the syntax.
Once the structure has been set, Carnie
delves into the real discussion. He discusses the extent to which language is embedded
in humans as an innate, pre-programmed capacity that humans possess, versus the
extent to which it is a learned attribute. Carnie delves into the concept of
Universal Grammar – the idea that human’s facility for language is innate.
Carnie essentially proves the widely accepted theory of UG through rigorous
logic. A language’s rules cannot be understood fully unless we have heard an
example of every legally constructed sentence in the language. Unless we have
some innate knowledge of the language, there could be some sentences that we
are yet to hear that violate the rules that we have learnt. However, if we
assume we possess some innate knowledge of language, that would explain our
ability to create original sentences that we have not been previously exposed
to.
Another element of Carnie’s chapters that I
found interesting was his discussion of open versus closed parts of speech in
chapter two. Carnie distinguishes words in the English language that are able
to be coined or modified (open class) versus words that cannot be (closed
class). I find this discussion particularly relevant to today as so many words,
often stemming from internet products or apps, are being adopted into the
English language and become elements of common vernacular. The presence of the
internet has facilitated the far more rapid ability for language to evolve and
adapt, often to the detriment of good grammar. Carnie discusses this element
further as he delves into the contrast between lexical and functional parts of
speech. I am very curious to see how the continued growth of the internet and
technology will impact standardised and accepted rules of the English language.
Hi Kais,
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting thought, but I guess I have less of a problem with the internet affecting our "standardised and accepted rules" of the English language. I feel that one of the purposes of human language is to remain flexible and adaptive in order to accommodate change. Any changes to the English language as a result of the internet will likely eventually become accepted as part of the "standard language" as the number of people who lived in a time before the internet decreases. I imagine it might be very similar to the transition from Medieval or Old English to the more modern English we speak today. If I recall correctly, even the word "internet", did not exactly exist as part of standard English until the internet was invented.
Hey Kais! You pose a really interesting question. As a user of 'internet speak', I often wonder about the impact it is having on my everyday grammar and syntax in the language I use. With developments like the Urban Dictionary breaking traditional 'rules' for the place of nouns, for example, in sentences, I agree that it would be fascinating to track the impact the growth of the internet and technology has had and will have on standardized and accepted rules of the English language!
ReplyDeleteHi Kais!
ReplyDeleteI also found the open versus closed argument really compelling—it's interesting to me that most "internet-generated" words fall into the open category, however. I wonder whether this is because we subconsciously only create words thats are open rather than closed? For instance, it seems a bit strange to coin a new conjunction—say, the word "ond," which means "and/or." But why does this seem so strange? "And/or" is an idea we use in normal writing, but internet vernacular seems not to touch this kind of closed language. I would love to dive deeper into this topic throughout the course, to see how technology impacts the way we think about language, and how our innate sense of language changes the way we communicate through technology!