Approaches

Traditional (rules)

Structural (tree)

Generative (machine)

Functional (program)

Development

A model originally for Greek, later adapted for Latin, and subsequently applied to other European languages similar in form to Latin

Course in General Linguistics (1916) Language (1933)

Syntactic Structures (1957), Aspects of the Theory of Syntax (1965), (Revised) Extended Standard Theory

An Introduction to Functional Grammar (1985)

Representative

Saussure, Bloomfield

Chomsky

Halliday, Simon

Central ideas

(Important concepts)

See all languages in terms of Latin categories

Describe each language as a self-contained structural system, word classes

Account for all the possible, or potential sentences in a language

Look at how language works in terms of the functional relationships of its constituent parts, and the systems of CHOICES which we make whenever we use language.

Research method

Prescriptive,

parsing

Descriptive and synchronic

Syntagmatic and paradigmatic, IC analysis

explanative

Deep/surface structures

Descriptive, functional

Research subject

Rules of correctness

Structure

transformational rules

communicative functions paradigmatic relations

Contribution/

Analytical feature

Sentence, parts of speech, subject, language analysis

hierarchical

explanative

Language and communication

Linear

Structural ambiguity

Idealized/formal

Functional/social