Understanding Grammar
Section A : Question 1
According to Cambridge Dictionary Online, the English definition of the word ‘Grammar’ is (the study or use of) the rules about how words change their form and combine with other words to make sentences. Grammar is divided into phonology (systematic organization of sounds in languages), morphology (the study and description of how words are formed), syntax (the study of the principles and processes by which sentences are constructed), semantics (the ways in which sounds and meanings are related) and lexicon (the mental dictionary of words). Without grammar, language will cease to exist. It will also be extremely difficult for students to speak English proficiently without having the knowledge of English grammar. Therefore, it is inevitable for grammar to be thought in formal education.
In Yu’s paper he states that most contemporary linguists agree that language is composed of grammar, sound and lexicon. He continued by stating that grammar, sound and lexicon has an influence each other and this influence constitute the basis of the language system. He theorized that language can be expressed through sound and that in the proses of making functional sounds, lexicon and grammar has to be used. Grammar has been quoted by Hu to be “the sound, structure, and meaning system of language” and only through grammar can sound and lexicon form a relevant language system.
This theory has caused many debates of the importance of grammar among linguists. Bastone wrote that “language without grammar would be chaotic; countless words without the indispensable guidelines for how they can be ordered and modified”. Another linguist, Chomsky explains that grammar can be thought of as a theory of a language. Therefore, grammar has an imperative part in language teaching.
Imagine that grammar is a foundation of a house and that language is a house. Without a strong foundation the house will eventually crumble. This basically means that a language system
According to Cambridge Dictionary Online, the English definition of the word ‘Grammar’ is (the study or use of) the rules about how words change their form and combine with other words to make sentences. Grammar is divided into phonology (systematic organization of sounds in languages), morphology (the study and description of how words are formed), syntax (the study of the principles and processes by which sentences are constructed), semantics (the ways in which sounds and meanings are related) and lexicon (the mental dictionary of words). Without grammar, language will cease to exist. It will also be extremely difficult for students to speak English proficiently without having the knowledge of English grammar. Therefore, it is inevitable for grammar to be thought in formal education.
In Yu’s paper he states that most contemporary linguists agree that language is composed of grammar, sound and lexicon. He continued by stating that grammar, sound and lexicon has an influence each other and this influence constitute the basis of the language system. He theorized that language can be expressed through sound and that in the proses of making functional sounds, lexicon and grammar has to be used. Grammar has been quoted by Hu to be “the sound, structure, and meaning system of language” and only through grammar can sound and lexicon form a relevant language system.
This theory has caused many debates of the importance of grammar among linguists. Bastone wrote that “language without grammar would be chaotic; countless words without the indispensable guidelines for how they can be ordered and modified”. Another linguist, Chomsky explains that grammar can be thought of as a theory of a language. Therefore, grammar has an imperative part in language teaching.
Imagine that grammar is a foundation of a house and that language is a house. Without a strong foundation the house will eventually crumble. This basically means that a language system