grammar

grammar
The systematic ways in which sentences of a language may be built. Grammar is typically studied independently of phonetics and semantics . Its two branches are syntax, or the way words make sentences, and morphology, which includes the recognition of syntactically significant parts of words. A grammar that aspires to find categories and rules applicable to all (human) languages is a universal grammar. Grammar may be pursued in various ways: a formal grammar aspires to the production of a proof procedure or algorithm separating the well-formed sentences of a language from other strings of words. The different levels of complexity of such algorithms defines the hierarchy of abstract structures for languages described originally by Chomsky . A descriptive grammar describes actual usages in a language, whereas a prescriptive grammar legislates for correct and incorrect usage. See also generative grammar.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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  • Grammar — is the field of linguistics that covers the rules governing the use of any given natural language. It includes morphology and syntax, often complemented by phonetics, phonology, semantics, and pragmatics. Each language has its own distinct… …   Wikipedia

  • Grammar — Gram mar, n. [OE. gramere, OF. gramaire, F. grammaire Prob. fr. L. gramatica Gr ?, fem. of ? skilled in grammar, fr. ? letter. See {Gramme}, {Graphic}, and cf. {Grammatical}, {Gramarye}.] 1. The science which treats of the principles of language; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grammar — [gram′ər] n. [ME gramer < OFr gramaire < L grammatica ( ars, art) < Gr grammatikē ( technē, art), grammar, learning < gramma, something written (see GRAM1): in L & Gr a term for the whole apparatus of literary study: in the medieval… …   English World dictionary

  • grammar — early 14c., gramarye (late 12c. in surnames), from O.Fr. gramaire learning, especially Latin and philology, grammar, (magic) incantation, spells, mumbo jumbo, irregular semi popular adoption [OED] of L. grammatica, from Gk. grammatike tekhne art… …   Etymology dictionary

  • grammar — ► NOUN 1) the whole system and structure of a language or of languages in general, usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology. 2) knowledge and use of the rules or principles of grammar: bad grammar. 3) a book on grammar. 4) the basic… …   English terms dictionary

  • Grammar — Gram mar, v. i. To discourse according to the rules of grammar; to use grammar. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • grammar — is the system by which words are used together to form meaningful utterances. It denotes both the system as it is found to exist in the use of a language (also called descriptive grammar) and the set of rules which form the basis of the standard… …   Modern English usage

  • grammar — [n] language rules ABCs*, accidence, alphabet, elements, fundaments, linguistics, morphology, principles, rudiments, sentence structure, stratification, structure, syntax, tagmemics; concepts 275,276,770 …   New thesaurus

  • grammar — grammarless, adj. /gram euhr/, n. 1. the study of the way the sentences of a language are constructed; morphology and syntax. 2. these features or constructions themselves: English grammar. 3. an account of these features; a set of rules… …   Universalium

  • grammar — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) Mode of speaking and writing Nouns 1. grammar; accidence, syntax, analysis, synopsis, praxis, punctuation, syllabi[fi]cation; agreement. See speech, language, writing. 2. a. part of speech; participle;… …   English dictionary for students

  • grammar — [[t]græ̱mə(r)[/t]] grammars 1) N UNCOUNT Grammar is the ways that words can be put together in order to make sentences. He doesn t have mastery of the basic rules of grammar. ...the difference between Sanskrit and Tibetan grammar. 2) N UNCOUNT:… …   English dictionary

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