1. Introduction to Linguistics
Ms. Suha Jawabreh
Lecture 17

2. The Components of Language
1. Sounds – Phonetics and Phonology 2. Words – Morphology 3. Phrases and sentences- Syntax 4. Meaning- Semantics and Pragmatics

3. What is Grammar?
Grammar is a set of rules that govern the composition of words, phrases and clauses.

4. -If we have the three words : boys, lucky and the , grammar will allow us to have :
The lucky boys
-This phrase would be referred to as grammatical.
However , the following combinations of words are referred to as ungrammatical.
*Boys the lucky *lucky boys the

5. What are the types of grammar?
1. Mental grammar:
-Mental grammar describes how speakers produce and understand linguistic expressions.
This grammar is sub-conscious and not the result of any teaching.
Psychologists study this type of grammar.

6. 2. Proper grammar
-This type of grammar involves what would be considered as ‘ linguistic etiquette’.
It identifies what best structures to be used in a language.
Sociolinguists study this type of grammar.

7. 3. Language grammar
-It involves the study and analysis of the structures found in a language.
Linguists study this type of grammar

8. Language Grammar
There are two approaches which were used in grammatical description : 1. The prescriptive approach 2. The descriptive approach

9. Prescriptive approach
It involves labelling the grammatical categories in sentences ( traditional grammar)
It sets out rules for the correct or ‘proper’ use of a languge.

10. Traditional Grammar
In traditional grammar, many traditional terms are used in a grammatical description:
Examples:
Parts of speech , number, person , tense, voice, gender (natural gender & grammatical gender)

11. Prescriptive rules
In this approach , grammarians decide what the correct use of language, not speakers of the language.
Examples of prescriptive rules:
You must not split an infinitive.
*to slowly drive
b. You must not end a sentence with a preposition.
*This is the girl I gave the book to.

12. Other examples that would be considered ‘improper’ to prescriptive grammarians: * Mary runs faster than me *Who did you see?