generative grammar
Generative grammar is a key concept in linguistics, focusing on the system of rules that define the structure of sentences in a language.
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Definition
C1Linguistics
(academic, technical)A set of rules that produce all and only the grammatically correct sentences in a language.
Example
- Generative grammar helps linguists understand how different languages construct sentences.
- Chomsky's theories are central to the study of generative grammar.
C1Linguistics
(academic, technical)A theory describing the innate knowledge speakers have about sentence structure in their language.
Example
- Generative grammar posits that certain grammatical rules are hardwired into the human brain.