Aspects of the Theory of Syntax

By Noam Chomsky

Book Overview

Beginning in the mid-fifties and emanating largely form MIT, an approach was developed to linguistic theory and to the study of the structure of particular languages that diverges in many respects from modern linguistics. Although this approach is connected to the traditional study of languages, it differs enough in its specific conclusions about the structure and in its specific conclusions about the structure of language to warrant a name, "generative grammar." Various deficiencies have been discovered in the first attempts to formulate a theory of transformational generative grammar and in the descriptive analysis of particular languages that motivated these formulations. At the same time, it has become apparent that these formulations can be extended and deepened.The major purpose of this book is to review these developments and to propose a reformulation of the theory of transformational generative grammar that takes them into account. The emphasis in this study is syntax; semantic and phonological aspects of the language structure are discussed only insofar as they bear on syntactic theory.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0262530074
• ISBN13: 9780262530071
• Release Date: January 1969
• Publisher: M.I.T. Press
• Length: 251 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.3" x 0.5" x 4.8"

Customer Reviews

Aspects is like space

It's a little strange to find or place reviews of such a seminal and magisterial work on a commercial web site. Aspects (and Syntactic Structures) essentially created the intellectual space in which linguists have operated for almost half a century. Not reading Aspects is only possible in the way that not reading "Origin of Species" is. An interested reader can certainly learn the same stuff another way -- more easily, in fact -- but when you come to understand it, you will want to get to the source for yourself.

The 60s Linguistics Nuclear-Bomb: Cannot be ignored.

Joe from Providence.I was a linguistics student when this book came out. Students and instructors alike were baffled, spent hours trying to understand it, and loved it or berated it. But no one could remain neutral about Chomsky's Theory of Syntax.Many years after graduate courses in different linguistic grammars, I picked it up again, and it is a comparatively easy read for present or former lingusitics students.The initial problem readers encountered was Chomsky's presupposition of a wide knowledge of all aspects of linguistics (and some major theories of learning behavior)-- he presupposes that you have grasped the sources that he either is reacting to or revising: What came before is what forced Chomsky to begin creating his theory of syntax. This is NOT like his later books: this IS syntax, the "technical kind." And that is partially what makes the book so important.Regardless of your opinion or reaction to this book: NO ONE CAN IGNORE IT, or its effect on linguistics after its publication. IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO READ 'WHAT SOMEONE SAYS CHOMSKY SAID.' Read the original.

elegant

I agree the one star review below is confusing, especially since, if this book is to be attacked, it should be on the basis of the ideas, not the organization. In fact, I think Chomsky's work represents some of the most concise, elegant, and well formulated academic writing I've ever come across; for that reason alone, this book is a classic in the genre. Of course there are certain assumptions on which his theory rests which have since been discredited, but this book is still influential, even within competing linguistic theories, and is very important from a historical perspective. Be forewarned, the text is extremely dense and slow going.

I haven't read this book but I had to stick up for it anyway

I read the two reviews to find out why this book had an average rating of 3 stars. The first one was informative, and the other, it turns out, was written by some dork who panned Chomsky's book for being "unorganized".

The classic work of modern linguistic theory. a must-read

Aspects of the Theory of Syntax is the work in which Noam Chomsky first makes known his controversial theories of language. The follow up to his primary work, Syntactic Structures, this work includes the introduction of such concepts as Deep Structure, Universal Grammar, and makes clear the realtionship between grammar and meaning. This is also the work which sparked the "generative semantics" debate that charged all through the 1970's. If you are a linguist, you must read this book. The theory may be outdated, but the history is the real importance. Besides, it's written by Chomsky, so the language is sure to be as powerful as it is clear and concise!