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The New Grammarians' Funeral: A Critique of Noam Chomsky's Linguistics
This is probably the sharpest consideration of Chomskyan linguistics yet to appear. Ian Robinson argues that it is important to recognise Chomsky's positive achievement as a definition of the domain of traditional syntax in the context of an adherence to traditional grammar. But this strictly limited achievement offers no basis for many of the claims made for linguistics. Chomsky's views of language as a whole are narrow and conceptually confused; his psychology is based on the predication of unnecessary entities; and the central ambition to make linguistics a natural science is deeply misconceived. The common reader will find the argument clear and invigorating. The study of language necessarily interests philosophers as well as linguists: so the ordinary person with no more than an interest in poetry or speech may feel himself disadvantaged as an amateur. On the contrary: it is by the common reader that the discussion of language is finally judged, and Mr Robinson speaks for the central common sense of speakers and readers of language and literature.
203 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1975
24 people want to read
About the author
Ian Robinson
20 books4 followersIan Robinson is a British literary critic and English professor. With David Sims, he co-founded Brynmill Press, a company devoted to publishing serious criticism.
His best-known works, such as The Survival of English, The English Prophets, and Holding the Centre, criticize the sloppy use of language and general incoherence in modern culture.
His best-known works, such as The Survival of English, The English Prophets, and Holding the Centre, criticize the sloppy use of language and general incoherence in modern culture.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 21, 2020
Ahead of his time
one of the first people to seriously tackle Chomsky as being the Emperor without any clothes
---
"This is probably the sharpest consideration of Chomskyan linguistics yet to appear... Chomsky's views of language as a whole are narrow and conceptually confused; his psychology is based on the predication of unnecessary entities; and the central ambition to make linguistics a natural science is deeply misconceived."
"The study of language necessarily interests philosophers as well as linguists: so the ordinary person with no more than an interest in poetry or speech may feel himself disadvantaged as an amateur."
"On the contrary: it is by the common reader that the discussion of language is finally judged... Mr Robinson speaks for the central common sense of speakers and readers of language and literature."
---
sampler
If I say that Chomsky has attained the goal of complete uselessness, I don't at all intend a sneer.
page 34
In its infatuation with propositions and logic, linguistics has fallen into the vile durance of the information theory from which Chomsky began by offering to deliver it.
page 117
In the end it must be a kind of Philistinism in a linguist to think, as Chomsky does with his doctrine of universals, of all languages as pretty much alike.
page 102
But Chomsky's exclamation of wonder is vitiated by trying to see itself as something else, namely language-independent explanation, intended to subject linguistics to psychology.
page 73
---
"Who is Ian Robinson, and why is he saying these terrible things about us? According to the dustjacket, he is a lecturer in English language and literature in the University College of Swansea, Wales; and there are apparently a number of reasons for his low opinion of Chomskyan linguistics."
"Despite admittedly having no qualifications for tackling the subject recognizable to professional linguists, Robinson has read most of Chomsky's writings on language. "
"If you are a professional linguist, you will be annoyed, appalled, amazed, and disgusted, but unlikely to stomach reading past page 25."
---
Chapter 1 The science of language
attacks the claim that the study of language can be scientific
Chapter 2 Chomsky's grammar to the rescue
is a twenty-page critique of Syntactic Structures
Chapter 3 The limits of transformational generative grammar
Robinson belabors (in seventeen pages) the point that there is more to language
Chapter 4 Chomsky's temptations and falls
---
"Robinson was inspired to write his book, to some extent by reading [the philosopher] R.G. Collingwood. And if we turn to Collingwood’s approach and attempt to ferret out Chomsky’s “constellations of presuppositions,” we suspect that he probably never gave Liberal Democracy a chance."
one of the first people to seriously tackle Chomsky as being the Emperor without any clothes
---
"This is probably the sharpest consideration of Chomskyan linguistics yet to appear... Chomsky's views of language as a whole are narrow and conceptually confused; his psychology is based on the predication of unnecessary entities; and the central ambition to make linguistics a natural science is deeply misconceived."
"The study of language necessarily interests philosophers as well as linguists: so the ordinary person with no more than an interest in poetry or speech may feel himself disadvantaged as an amateur."
"On the contrary: it is by the common reader that the discussion of language is finally judged... Mr Robinson speaks for the central common sense of speakers and readers of language and literature."
---
sampler
If I say that Chomsky has attained the goal of complete uselessness, I don't at all intend a sneer.
page 34
In its infatuation with propositions and logic, linguistics has fallen into the vile durance of the information theory from which Chomsky began by offering to deliver it.
page 117
In the end it must be a kind of Philistinism in a linguist to think, as Chomsky does with his doctrine of universals, of all languages as pretty much alike.
page 102
But Chomsky's exclamation of wonder is vitiated by trying to see itself as something else, namely language-independent explanation, intended to subject linguistics to psychology.
page 73
---
"Who is Ian Robinson, and why is he saying these terrible things about us? According to the dustjacket, he is a lecturer in English language and literature in the University College of Swansea, Wales; and there are apparently a number of reasons for his low opinion of Chomskyan linguistics."
"Despite admittedly having no qualifications for tackling the subject recognizable to professional linguists, Robinson has read most of Chomsky's writings on language. "
"If you are a professional linguist, you will be annoyed, appalled, amazed, and disgusted, but unlikely to stomach reading past page 25."
---
Chapter 1 The science of language
attacks the claim that the study of language can be scientific
Chapter 2 Chomsky's grammar to the rescue
is a twenty-page critique of Syntactic Structures
Chapter 3 The limits of transformational generative grammar
Robinson belabors (in seventeen pages) the point that there is more to language
Chapter 4 Chomsky's temptations and falls
---
"Robinson was inspired to write his book, to some extent by reading [the philosopher] R.G. Collingwood. And if we turn to Collingwood’s approach and attempt to ferret out Chomsky’s “constellations of presuppositions,” we suspect that he probably never gave Liberal Democracy a chance."
September 1, 2022
Makes some decent criticisms of the Chomskyan linguistics project, which is always to be encouraged. But it seems to me a bit of a mess, with good points, not so good points and non-points all mixed up. Sadly, in any case, he evidently failed to bring the project down, as this was published in the mid-70s and the linguistics faculties, in all their intellectual aridity, still seem to be getting the funding, even if Noam isn't quite the commanding boss figure he was back then.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews