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Theoretical grammar

1. Introductory to the theoretical study of the English Language Grammar

1.1. The Subject of Theoretical Grammar.

1.2. Kinds of Theoretical Grammar.

1.3. Main grammatical notions:

1.3.1. Syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations.

1.3.2. Grammatical categories.

1.3.3. Language levels.

1.4. General characteristics of the contemporary English language system.

1. The Subject of Theoretical Grammar

Theoretical Grammar is a section of linguistics that studies grammar system of language.

Grammar system of language refers to the whole complex of conformities to natural laws where the latter defines ways of words’ alterations and also ways of word combinations in phrases and sentences.

As any complex object Grammar is a complex system that is presented by elements and structure in their mutually dependent organization.

Grammar elements refer to morphemes, words, word-combinations and sentences.

Grammar structure implies relations and connections among grammar elements or inner organization of the language grammar system.

The subject of English Theoretical Grammar refers to the study of the English Language grammar organization as a system parts of which are mutually connected with definite relations of different types of complexity (complication, complicacy).

The main task of Theoretical Grammar is an adequate systematic (methodic) description of language facts and also their theoretical interpretation.

The difference between Practical and Theoretical Grammar refers to the following peculiarities:

1. Practical Grammar prescribes definite rules for the use of a language (gives instructions for the use of language data, teaches how to speak and write);

2. Theoretical Grammar analyzes language data, interprets that, expounds the data but does not give instructions as for the use of them.

2. Kinds of Theoretical Grammar

To explain and interpreter a phenomenon means to reveal and understand its nature. Kinds of Theoretical Grammar are defined by different approaches to the problem of How to interpret language data.

In accordance with an approach there is a kind of Theoretical Grammar (Drawing 1.1).

Drawing 1.1. Basis for approaches to the problem ‘How to interpreter language data’.

The drawing 1.1 shows relations of language signs with other different phenomena, which grounds the appearance of the approaches to the interpretation of their relations (table 1.1).

Table 1.1

Theoretical approaches to language data interpretation

Type of relations (drawing 1.1)	Essence		Approach
A language sign – other language signs (1 – 2)	Relations among language signs	Combinations of syntagmatic elements	Distributive Grammar	Structural or Formal Grammar
		Alterations of grammatical forms	Transformative Grammar
A language sign – a notion (2 – 4)	Connections between grammatical categories and categories of thinking		Logical Grammar	Semantic Grammar
The speaking – a language sign (5 – 2)	Influence of psychology on the use of grammatical forms		Psychological Grammar
Language signs – references (2 – 3)	Relations of language signs and non-language objects that are marked with language categories and grammatical forms		Grammar of Situation

Thus, there are two general approaches – pure linguistic and semantic. To the former Structural or Formal Grammar is referred, and to the latter – Logical Grammar, Psychological Grammar and Grammar of Situation (drawing 1.2).

I t tends to comprehend and explain all phenomena of language by inner relations among signs: relations among syntagmatic elements (Distributive Grammar), connections of different forms of language signs (Transforming Grammar) without addressing to neither thinking nor objective reality or psychology of the speaking.

These types tend to comprehend and explain language data by their relations with non-language phenomena (thinking (Logical Grammar), peculiarities of individual and group psychology (Psychological Grammar), peculiarities of grammatical forms choosing for objects and natural phenomena naming (Situated Grammar)

Drawing 1.2. Two general types of Theoretical Grammar

Inside of each approach there are static (gives a way to make language facts be brought to light and classified) and dynamic methods (searches how one language facts transfer into other and one grammar forms appear from others) of language data study.