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Grammar in the systemic conception of language. Syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations of lingual units.
The systemic conception of language
Language is а verbal means of forming and storing ideas as reflections of reality and exchanging them in the process of human intercourse. Language as something created by people is social and psychological by nature.
It unites three parts:
– the phonological system (determines the material (phonetic) form of its significant units;
– the lexical system (comprises the whole set of nominative means of language (words and stable word-groups);
– the grammatical system (presents the whole set of regularities determining the combination of nominative units in the formation of utterances).
Only the unity of these three elements forms а language.
Modern linguistics is essentially based on the systemic conception of language. Language is accepted as a system of signs which are closely interconnected and interdependent. System in general is defined as a structured set of elements related to one another by a common function. The interpretation of language as a system develops a number of notions: e.g. the notions of language levels and language units, paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations, etc.
The systemic nature of grammar is evident, since grammar is responsible for the very organization of the informative content of utterances. Theoretical grammar deals with the language as a functional system.
The true grammatical rules or regularities cannot be separated from the expression of meanings; on the contrary they are themselves meaningful. Since the grammatical forms and regularities are meaningful they must be stated semantically (must be worded functionally).
The grammatical organization of language is not some set of formal structures in speech making, but a very important part of language semantic content.
A linguistic unit can enter into relations of two different kinds:
- paradigmatic;
- syntagmatic.
PR are relations based on the principles of similarity. They exist between the units that can substitute one another. For instance, in the word-group A PINT OF MILK the word PINT is in paradigmatic relations with the words bottle, cup, etc. The article A can enter into PR with the units the, this, one, same, etc. According to different principles of similarity PR can be of three types: semantic, formal and functional.
a) Semantic PR are based on the similarity of meaning: a book to read = a book for reading. EX: He used to practice English every day – He would practice English every day.
b) Formal PR are based on the similarity of forms. Such relations exist between the members of a paradigm: man – men; play – played – will play – is playing.
c) Functional PR are based on the similarity of function. They are established between the elements that can occur in the same position. EX: noun determiners: a, the, this, his, Ann’s, some, each, etc.
PR are associated with the sphere of ‘language’.
A linguistic unit enters into syntagmatic relations with other units of the same level it occurs with. SR exist at every language level. E.g. in the word-group A PINT OF MILK the word PINT contrasts SR with A, OF, MILK; within the word PINT – P, I, N and T are in syntagmatic relations. SR are linear relations, that is why they are manifested in speech. They can be of three different types: coordinate, subordinate and predicative.
a) Coordinate SR exist between the homogeneous linguistic units that are equal in rank, that is, they are the relations of independence: EX: you and me; They were tired but happy.
b) Subordinate SR are the relations of dependence when one linguistic unit depends on the other: teach + er – morphological level; a smart student – word-group level; predicative and subordinate clauses – sentence level.
c) Predicative SR are the relations of interdependence: primary and secondary predication.
SR may be observed in utterances, which is impossible when we deal with PR. Therefore, PR are identified with ‘language’ while SR are identified with ‘speech’.
2. The aim of the course of theoretical grammar. Parts of grammar. Language units and levels.
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