Language Descriptions

Group 1:

Phan Thi OanhNguyen Thi Thu HangNguyen Thu HongNguyen Hong LeLe Vu Kieu Linh

CLASS: PG09

OUTLINE

I. Classical or traditional grammarII. Structural linguisticsIII. Transformational generative grammarIV. Language variation and register

analysisV. Functional/ Notional grammarVI. Discourse (Rhetorical) analysis

Classical or traditional grammar

I. Classical or traditional grammar

1. How language is described:- Based on: + grammars of classical languages. + analysis of the role of each word

in the sentence.- Grammatical function of each word is

reflected by appropriate inflections.

2. Strengths and weaknesses

• English has lost most of its case markers.• Its influence on ESP has never been strong.

• Its concept underlie any language.• It has continued to provide a useful indirect

source of guidance.

Structural linguistics

II. Structural linguistics

1. How language is described- Language is described in terms of

syntagmatic structures.

- The structures carry fundamental propositions and notions.

- Different meanings are generated by varying the words within structures.

2. Strengths and weaknesses

• The development of substitution table as a typical means of explaining grammatical patterns.

E.g. A substitution table in ESP

A dog biteAn electric shockSevere shockBurns

can

may

cause

result in

lead to

heat stroke

death

unconsciousness

2. Strengths and weaknesses

• Most enduring application was structural syllabus which provides:

- means of selecting and sequencing language items; - description of generative core of the language.

2. Strengths and weaknesses

• Structural description was too superficial, and could not explain relationships of meaning.

• It may fail to provide the learner with an understanding of the communicative use of the structures.