Construction Grammar David Yocom National American University Abstract This is part of a new branch of linguistic science and is what I see as an alternative source for learning about grammar and how it is used in communication, explaining a concept that redefines grammar and puts its use and the reasoning and methods of communication in the foreground, pulling logic and reason and grammatical functions together to allow for definition and creation of literary works of any and all kinds, not just for use in grammar checkers, but for use in the creation of novels, and movies, and musical arrangements, and even other languages, through the use of an understood science of grammatical construction. It would be an all-encompassing knowledge base that describes grammar, its intent, its purpose, and its use, detailing how and why it is used the way it is in the art of communication and could be applied to any number of scientific and literary pursuits. Some of the theories I have found are those of language structures, and those of ideas of concepts involving thought processes, researched to try to grasp the intricacy and detail of language and grammar. One theory postulates that it is the language itself that creates the meaning given in the semantics of the words in grammar that we use. How can I better understand this language construction to find the proper words to convey to the instructor and the class the possibilities yet unattained in devising and putting to use a system of language that will allow for creation of all literature including my essay? And were it to be able to be understood and studied, and able to be used in some way and not entirely too complicated or cumbersome for use in communication, would there be an actual benefit to having this knowledge? Realizing that the study of language and the concepts of its use, and what is understood about communication and the sciences and the arts, has gone on for centuries, the thought of finding conclusive answers in any of these fields that affect our ability to communicate inspires me to want to learn more. Construction Grammar I have always dreamed of a utopian world where I would be one of the sole inhabitants and the other people would be fictional, or not real. So it has always interested me to imagine how this might be accomplished. First, I would have to make them talk. The study of English has consisted of the study of grammar and literature. The idea of a pattern of construction existing for grammar usage is currently evolving. (Croft, Preview, 2001, p. 1). Literature has been used to convey thoughts and as a mode for meaningful expression. (Lakoff, Listing for George Lakoff, 2014, p. 1). Construction grammar uses the pattern of grammatical units to form structures used to convey meaning. (Croft, Preview, 2001, p. 1). This construction of grammar can be used to learn about language and its usage, and to study meaningful expression. Along with literature and grammar, there are now studies being done about the use of grammar in language and their patterns, researching the possibility of creating and developing meaningful linguistic works using structures and systems of patterns and concepts. (Lakoff, Women, fire, and dangerous things, 1987, pp. i-xvii). This is part of a new branch of linguistic science and is what I see as an alternative source for learning about grammar and how it is used in communication, explaining a concept that redefines grammar and puts its use and the reasoning and methods of communication in the foreground, pulling logic and reason and grammatical functions together to allow for definition and creation of literary works of any and all kinds, not just for use in grammar checkers, but for use in the creation of novels, and movies, and musical arrangements, and even other languages, through the use of an understood science of grammatical construction. It seems to challenge the age old western intellectual superstructure that simplifies knowledge as symbols and categorization. (Lakoff, Women, fire, and dangerous things, 1987, pp. 8-9). Yet it has the idea of categorization as its fundamental base. (Lakoff, Women, fire, and dangerous things, 1987, pp. 8-9). So it appears that this once theorized upon idea of structures of grammar may now be a view of language and another field of knowledge and study that could, one day, eclipse the study of grammar, itself, and become the highlight of language studies. In linguistics, grammatical construction, the syntactic grouping of words and phrases, involves pragmatic understandings of words and languages, semantic understandings, and then a host of theories and research findings. The dictionary lists pragmatic as “pertaining to matters of facts or practical affairs, to the exclusion of intellectual or artistic matters…”. The dictionary also refers to semantics as “the study of meanings”. (Miriam Webster, 2001) These are matters that relate to communication involving word choices and phrasing. In essays, there are common structures, in poetry there are often stresses upon phrasing and structure. Literature is characterized by different categories from historical works that follow a progression to the needed form of language to best express something to a particular audience. And each language also has its own form. Would there be a backlash to the idea that our thoughts and feelings are condensed into computer programs? Would it increase our understanding or decrease our understanding of psychology to see the “DNA” of our thought processes analyzed in the characterization of our writing patterns and our use of grammar to express ourselves? Or would this be a cheap parlor trick to fantasize upon when there is nothing of interest filling ones consciousness? It would be an all-encompassing knowledge base that describes grammar, its intent, its purpose, and its use, detailing how and why it is used the way it is in the art of communication and could be applied to any number of scientific and literary pursuits. In the way that computer language describes diverse fields of overlapping material to gather data and interpret it through integration of methods, such as inheritance (an object from a field of objects) and polymorphism (a sort of network to draw upon values and functions within itself using functions that have the same name but differing methods to accomplish the same purpose), (Network, 2005). Linguistics, and concepts of cognitive mechanisms, are determined and structured through theory and analysis to categorize, or define in a useable manner, with the ultimate goal of having a working knowledge of language. (Lakoff, Women, fire, and dangerous things, 1987, p. 67). This study of human reason, (Lakoff, Women, fire, and dangerous things, 1987, p. 373). is meant to apply to the research being conducted into grammar constructions (Lakoff, Listing for George Lakoff, 2014, p. 1). at the time of this narrative, arguing for the inclusion and consideration of grammatical construction into the lexicons of knowledge about English language on a par with grammar studies and the study of the English language. Some of the theories I have found are those of language structures, and those of ideas of concepts involving thought processes, researched to try to grasp the intricacy and detail of language and grammar. Noam Chompsky, a well-known linguist, rules out semantics (word meanings) in the study of generative grammar, and defines the structures as being a set of rules that differ from the structuralist theories in that they should “render explicit the implicit knowledge of the speaker” preferring the “human essence” to pure structure of form. According to him, to study language is to study the human nature of the mind. He proposed well defined rules to generate a required sequence of words. Humans instantly decipher these word groupings as having meaning. His theories postulate that it is the language itself that creates the meaning given in the semantics of the words in grammar that we use. (Singhal, 2012, p. 1). So language consists of structure and is the basis for understanding communication. We, as humans, have communicated in various ways throughout the history of our existence. The idea of achieving an understanding through communication has existed along with the ability to reason. In fact, communication has become an ideal that is used to prevent miscommunication and misunderstanding. Languages have changed and evolved over the years, and even the distinct languages themselves undergo changes in how they are used throughout time. And so have our ideas of how we are able to reason and think and learn. Once again, the idea of research finding answers to questions that we do not have answers for, leads us toward a better understanding of our world. In my case, the question would be, what form of structure in the construction of language and its usage is preventing me from accomplishing the good grade I wish to have in my English Composition Essay? How can I better understand this language construction to find the proper words to convey to the instructor and the class the possibilities yet unattained in devising and putting to use a system of language that will allow for creation of all literature including my essay? I might not even need to know what my essay was about, save maybe for the title, in order to create it synthetically, if I buy the standard citations and references index at the minimum $77 dollar fee! Perhaps there is no reason to know every reason and detail as to how and why we communicate. Maybe that would entail what it is to be omnipotent, or maybe that would be some sort of mechanization of omnipotence like artificial intelligence. Perhaps its very structure would be overwhelming and of little use, like taking the long way to get somewhere, or describing in detail the result one wishes to obtain for each particular phrase or word group in a narration. And there may be no problems able to be solved by the existence of an all-encompassing understanding of language structure and usage. Were it to be able to be understood and studied, and able to be used in some way and not entirely too complicated or cumbersome for use (in creative ways or in communicative problem solving), would there be an actual benefit to having this knowledge? Perhaps it could be employed to facilitate introductions of social programs, or to redefine them as regards purpose or content, or to facilitate updating of programs involving businesses or to better describe their relationships within the community. Maybe it would be a way to generate ideas or definitions that fit the current lives and lifestyles of a generation or perhaps describe this generation more aptly with the intent of understanding it better so as to be able to communicate within or throughout it for some sort of purpose; or better ways to communicate to the rest of the world various ideas (invoke the query the bearded one website or not…?). It would not be too surprising to learn that some computer somewhere is doing all the things described here, and more, but the idea of understanding language and grammar and being able to manipulate it in creative ways seems very interesting and ought, even, to be a marketable product. So what would keep it from becoming a class in the education of those involved with language studies? Is it such a simple thing that a computer can do all these things on its own, and yet we struggle to live up to the idealism of the computer and the standards it is programed with? Is there any data to support the conclusion, either way, that such a computer program exists? And if it does, will it become artificial intelligence or just another means for governmental intrusion? Realizing that the study of language and the concepts of its use, and what is understood about communication and the sciences and the arts, has gone on for centuries, the thought of finding conclusive answers in any of these fields that affect our ability to communicate inspires me to want to learn more.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 08:49:28 +0000
© 2015