science

Integrational theory of grammars

Integrational theory of grammars is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Integrational theory of grammars rather than just read about it. In short: The integrational theory of grammars is the theory of linguistic descriptions that has been developed within the general linguistic approach of integrational linguistics. Overview Differently from most other approaches in linguistics, integrational linguistics emphasizes a distinction between theories of language and theories of language descriptions.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

The integrational theory of grammars is the theory of linguistic descriptions that has been developed within the general linguistic approach of integrational linguistics.

Overview Differently from most other approaches in linguistics, integrational linguistics emphasizes a distinction between theories of language and theories of language descriptions. Integrational linguistics has, therefore, developed both a general theory of language, the integrational theory of language, and a theory of linguistic descriptions. In integrational linguistics, a description of a language is understood as a theory (formulated by the linguist) of the language; similarly, for descriptions of varieties or individual idiolects. Traditionally, grammars are most important among such descriptions, which also include descriptions of (parts of) the variety structure of a language, such as a description of a language's development in time or distribution in geographical space. "Grammar" is here used in a broad sense, covering not only morphological and syntactic but also phonological and semantic descriptions. A description of the lexicon, i.e. a dictionary, is again construed as a theory of its object (Drude 2004). Since the integrational theory of grammars deals with the relation between language descriptions and their objects, it presupposes both the integrational theory of linguistic variability and the integrational theory of language systems. On an IL view, grammars have three fundamental properties:

Ideally, they are empirical axiomatic theories. IL does not propose to replace traditional, non-axiomatic grammars by axiomatic theories. Rather, an axiomatic format for grammars is seen as an ideal reference-point for non-axiomatic, declarative grammars that allows for a more stringent formulation of such grammars, a formulation that avoids inconsistencies and circularities without having explicit resort to axiomatization. The empirical basis of grammars is ultimately seen in acts of communication on the one hand and mental states and events on the other: it is such acts or states and events that directly or indirectly provide the data for a grammar. Grammars are to be formulated so as to account for language variability both within and between languages, i.e., they must presuppose a theory of linguistic variability. They are formulated "in terms of" a theory of language: a grammar includes terms, definitions, assumptions, and theorems from a theory of language that is presupposed in the grammar. These are used in the grammar (i) to provide descriptive terms for categories and other entities of the language under description, and (ii) to interact with terms, definitions, assumptions, and theorems that are specific to the grammar. Typically, the axioms and theorems of a grammar of a language or language variety are formulated as universal implications over the systems of the idiolects in the given language or variety. For example, a traditional statement on a language variety, such as

hack "taxi" is a noun in Colloquial American English. is construed as equivalent to

For all S: If S is a system of some element of Colloquial American English, then <hack, "taxi"> is an element of Noun-of-S. which may be a sentence of a grammar that contains "Colloquial American English" as an axiomatic constant, denoting a certain subset of English. Generally, an integrational grammar is not an algorithm but a "declarative" theory: its formulae have the form of statements; thus, the grammar's axioms and theorems can be understood directly as statements on the language, variety or idiolect described by the grammar. Excepting the language needed for formulating the semantic part of a grammar, integrational grammars may be formulated using an appropriate version of set theory.

References

Further reading Falkenberg, Thomas. 1996. Grammatiken als empirische axiomatische Theorien. Tübingen: Niemeyer. (= Linguistische Arbeiten 346). Lieb, Hans-Heinrich. 1974. "Grammars as theories: The case for axiomatic grammar (Part I)". Theoretical Linguistics 1. 39–115. Lieb, Hans-Heinrich. 1976. "Grammars as theories: The case for axiomatic grammar (Part II)". Theoretical Linguistics 3. 1–98. Lieb, Hans-Heinrich. 1983. Integrational Linguistics. Vol. 1: General Outline. Amsterdam; Philadelphia: Benjamins. (= Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 17). "Part G: Integrational grammars".

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Integrational theory of grammars

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Integrational theory of grammars claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Integrational theory of grammars before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Integrational theory of grammars ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Integrational theory of grammars

In research: Integrational theory of grammars appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Integrational theory of grammars in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Integrational theory of grammars is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Grammar frameworks, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Integrational theory of grammars outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Integrational theory of grammars in simple terms?

The integrational theory of grammars is the theory of linguistic descriptions that has been developed within the general linguistic approach of integrational linguistics. Overview Differently from most other approaches in linguistics, integrational linguistics emphasizes a distinction between theor…

Why does Integrational theory of grammars matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Integrational theory of grammars?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Integrational theory of grammars.