Friday 29 July 2016

Why Chomskyan Linguistics Has Power

Martin (1992: 541-2):
Note that this taxonomy [Fig. 7.18 Superordination taxonomy for theories of language] is uninflected for power, which rests for obvious reasons with theories that naturalise discourses of ethnicity, gender, generation and class by positing an arbitrary relation between form and meaning, thereby rendering language a transparent conduit through which these discourses are poured.

Blogger Comments:

The claim here is that:
  1. Chomskyan Linguistics has power over other theories;
  2. Chomskyan Linguistics naturalises discourses of ethnicity, gender, generation and class;
  3. the means of this naturalisation is the construal of the relation between syntax and semantics as arbitrary;
  4. the result of this naturalisation by such means is that language is construed as a transparent conduit through which these naturalised discourses are poured;
  5. the reason why this should confer power on Chomskyan Linguistics is obvious.

a
= b
Note  
[[that this taxonomy is uninflected for power]]
which
(power)
rests
for obvious reasons
with
theories [[[that naturalise discourses of ethnicity, gender, generation and class || by positing an arbitrary relation between form and meaning, || thereby rendering language a transparent conduit [[through which these discourses are poured]] ]]]]
Process: mental
Phenomenon: fact
Attribute: possession
Pro-
Cause
-cess
Carrier: possessor


a
x b manner
x c result
that
(theories)
naturalise
discourses of ethnicity, gender, generation and class
by
positing
an arbitrary relation
between form and meaning
thereby
rendering
language
a transparent conduit [[through which these discourses are poured]]
Attributor
Process
Attribute
Carrier

Process
Goal
Location

Process
Token
Value