Research Seminar December 2nd: Margaret Thomas - The Emergence of Generative Grammar: Four Perspectives

Margaret Thomas 

The Emergence of Generative Grammar: Four Perspectives

Generative grammar is the internationally-dominant school of formal linguistics, and the prime contemporary heir to the assertion that linguistics is the scientific study of language. This talk investigates the origins and early development of generative grammar, concentrating on the mid to late 20th century. We will explore four perspectives: that of the chief proponent of generative grammar, Noam Chomsky; that of Chomsky’s early students and supporters; that of historiographers of linguistics; and that of scholars outside linguistics who have observed the emergence of generative grammar in its wider political-cultural context. This presentation does not presuppose depth of exposure to modern linguistics; rather, my goal is to communicate something of the historical, philosophical, and sociological backdrop to one prominent modern stream of research into the nature of human language. 

Lecture Handout