Transformational grammar analyzes language based on the generative and subconscious rules that native speakers use. It seeks to understand the linguistic intuition of native speakers by observing data, generalizing rules, developing hypotheses, and testing sentences on speakers. Transformational grammar models language through a phrase structure, lexical component, deep structure, transformations, surface structure, and morphophonemic rules to generate sentences. It describes how language is produced rather than prescribing rules.

1. TRANSFORMATIONAL
GRAMMAR
An introduction

2. Dr. Abha Pandey
Professor & Head
Department of English
Govt. Mahakoshal Arts & Commerce
College, Jabalpur
T G Grammar

3. LINGUISTICS

4. TRADITIONAL GRAMMAR
 Grammarians subjected the English
language to the rules of classical
languages Latin & Greek.
 Examples:
1. A sentence should never end in a
preposition. When it doesn’t apply to
English:
This is the bank Iinve ste d m y m o ne y in.
1. May I have a cookie? NOT Can I have a
cookie?

5. TRANSFORMATIONAL
GENERATIVE LINGUISTICS
 Sentences are generated by a
(subconscious) set of procedures.
 It is part of the mind ability.
 The goal is ….. To figure out what we
(subconsciously) know……. A theory
of the linguistic intuitio n (unconscious
knowledge) of a native speaker.

6. How do they analyze language?
1. Observe data
2. Generalize rules.
3. Develop hypotheses.
4. Test sentences on native speakers.
5. If their judgments agree with the
grammaticality rules then the
hypothesis is supported.
(grammaticality judgments)

7. Which sentences do not sound
right?
 The boy found the ball
 The boy found quickly
 The boy found in the house
 The boy found the ball in the house
 Grammaticality judgments are determined by
rules that are shared by the speakers of a
language. They do not depend on whether the
sentence has meaning or not:
 Colourless green ideas sleep furiously.
 It doesn’t mean anything but it sounds like an

8. GENERATIVE GRAMMARRULES
 Older schools of grammar:
 PERSCRIPTIVE RULES: perscribe how
people ‘should’ produce language.
 The ‘rules’ in TG do not tell us how to
produce language> They tell us the
‘ORDER’ in which to put words and
phrases.
 DESCRIPTIVE RULES: Describes how

9. GENERATIVE?
Because they allow us to
generate an infinite number
of sentences.

10. TRANSFORMATIONAL
GRAMMARMODEL OF
LANGUAGE
Phrase structure
Lexical component
Deep structure
Transformations
Surface structure
Morphophonemic rules
Sentence

11. PARAPHRASE & AMBIGUITY
 Paraphrase
 When several
surface structures
relate to one deep
structure.
1. John bought the book
from Mary.
2. Mary sold the book to
John.
3. The book was sold to
 Ambiguity
 One surface
structure relating to
several deep
structures.
 Flying planes can be
dangerous.
1. To fly planes.
2. Planes which are flying.