Generative Grammar

by Geoffrey C. Horrocks

This book provides a critical review of the development of generative grammar, both transformational and non-transformational, from the early 1960s to the present, and presents contemporary results in the context of an overall evaluation of recent research in the field.

Geoffrey Horrocks compares Chomsky's approach to the study of grammar, culminating in Government and Binding theory, with two other theories which are deliberate reactions to this Generalised Phrase Structure Grammar and Lexical-Functional Grammar. Whilst proponents of all three models regard themselves as generative grammarians, and share many of the same objectives, the differences between them nevertheless account for much of the recent debate in this subject. By presenting these different theories in the context of the issues that unite and divide them, the book highlights the problems which arise in any attempt to establish an adequate theory of grammatical representation.

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

Reviews

[Phil Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloody hard work but as accessible a consideration of Chomskyan grammar and the alternatives as has ever been written. Still made my brain hurt though.