Parts of grammar. Paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations of l-ge units

Grammar as part of language and linguistic discipline.

Human l-ge is a means of communication. It fulfils the functions

- forming

- storing

- exchanging the information

L-ge is social and psychological by nature. Different l-ge phenomena are too complex to be analysed without arranging them in a system. In a l-ge description generally we deal with 3 essential parts:

- phonology

- vocabulary

- grammar

Phonological system deals with the sound system.

The lexical system comprises the whole set of nominative means of l-ge.

The grammatical system presents a set of devices for handing the vocabulary.

Grammar can be practical and theoretical.

The subject matter of practical grammar is the organization of words into various combinations. It presents a set of rules of combining w-s into utterance modifying the forms of w-s for particular purpose and interpret the result.

Theoretical grammar means theoretical explanation of the nature or peculiarities of the grammatical system of l-ge. To achieve this aim is necessary to scientifically analyse and define the categories and study mechanisms of grammatical formation of utterance. The main purpose of it is to introduce to the students many linguistic problems connected with grammatical structures and also to show the modest methods which will help to deal with this problem.

The aim of this coarse is:

1. to arm the students with theoretical knowledge which will stimulate their active approach to the understanding complex grammar phenomena.

2. to enable students to clearly understand specific linguistic literature.

3. to prepare students for carrying out their own scientific research.

Parts of grammar. Paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations of l-ge units

Traditionally the main units of grammar are considered the w. and syntax.

The w. may be divided into morphemes, the sentence – into w-s, w. combinations.

Grammar is divided in 2 parts: a) morphology and b) syntax.

A – studies the composition of w-s, w. forms.

B – studies the structure of s-ce, utterances, phrase.

Grammatical units have 2 types of relations:

- paradigmatic (a)

- syntagmatic (b)

B – appear in speech.

Syntagma is linear chain of units in a sygmental stream. This relations exist in a utterance. Any syntactic syntagma is combination of at least 2 w-s or w. groups, one of each is modified by the other.

A – exist b/n the elements of l-ge system outside the streams in which they occur. These relations find their expression in the fact that each l-ge unit is included in a set of series of connections based on different formal and functional properties.

The minimal paradyme consist of 2 forms. So we may say that morphologist studies paradigmatic relations of w-s and s-ce, syntax – syntagmatic relations of w-s and s-ce.

3. The word and the morpheme.

Word is a nominative unit of the l-ge formed by morphemes which enter the lexicon of the l-ge and as an elementary component used for the formation of the s-ce.

The w. has the double nature: it is material because it can be seen and heard; it is immaterial as far as meaning is concerned. The main features of w.: isolatability – it can be used separately; uninterruptability – the w. is not easily interrupted by parenthetical expressions; looseness – can stand in any position of the s-ce.

Morpheme are meaningful abstract units which constitute a w., they are represented in speech by morphs. Some morphemes are realized in speech by single morphs, others are represented in speech by several morphs which called allomorphs (s, z, iz)

4. The morphemic structure of words. Different classification of morphemes.

Some morphemes are realized in speech by single morphs, others are represented in speech by several morphs which called allomorphs (s, z, iz).

Morphemes are divided into roots and affixes. They can be free (obligatory) and bound (non-obligatiry).

According to the position of the affix we divided them into prefix, suffix, infix (mouse – mice).

Another affixal morpheme is inflexion.

Sometimes the grammatical meaning of the morpheme can be expressed by the absence of the morpheme which is called zero-morpheme.

According to the meaning and the function in the w. morphemes are divided into the lexical (root), lexico-grammatical (w. building affixes) and grammatical.

1. overt – covert (явная – скрытая)

boys – boy’s father (covert), children’s books - overt

2. free – bound

3. segmental – supra-segmental

‘import – im’port (supra-segmental)

4. additive – replacive

gu: s – gi: s

5. continious – discontinuous

is taken

The function of the morpheme can be performed by a separate w. in the form “wiil do” the meaning of the future is expressed by “will”. This w. is a contradictory unit. Formally it is a w., functionally it is a morpheme. As it has both the features of morpheme and a w. it’s called a word-morpheme or it’s called semi-bound morpheme.