Transformational-generative grammar is a theory that represents a native speaker's innate knowledge of language. It includes an ideal mental representation of a language and rules for generating grammatical sentences. The theory proposes that speakers have unconscious knowledge of phonological, syntactic, and semantic rules and can use these rules to produce and understand an infinite number of sentences. Transformational rules allow speakers to derive new structures from underlying structures.

1. Transformational-
Generative Grammar

2. Transformational-Generative Grammar
• Idealized representation of the
knowledge possessed by a
native speaker of a language
(Thomas & Kintgen, 1974)

3. Transformational-Generative Grammar
T G
Arrangement Elements
Grammatical Rules

4. The Farmer in the Dell

6. Any speaker
of language
can produce
and
understand an
infinite
number of
sentences.
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003)

7. Features
of Syntax
(Payne, 2006)

8. Features of Syntax
1. Constituency
2. Hierarchical Structure
3. Linear Word Order
4. Syntactic Category

9. 1
Linear Word Order
1. John saw the winners.
2. The winners saw John.
A. The 2012 Olympics
B. 2012 the Olympics
C. Olympics 2012 the

10. 2
Constituency
1. [Good girls] and boys
2. Good [girls and boys]

11. Constituency
For Sale: An antique desk
suitable for lady with thick legs
and big drawers.
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003)

12. Memory Challenge
1. 09214182789
2. 9320608
3. 1119
4. 9780521671507
5. EDL201

13. Constituency
Example: NP
Simple: the dog
Complicated: the big black dog
that always barks at me as I try
to vainly sneak past the
junkyard on my way home
from piano lessons

14. Constituent Boundary Test
Where does the click occur?
RESULTS:
• Easy = Constituent Boundary
• Inside the Boundary = Thought of
Boundary
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003)

15. 3
Hierarchical Structure

16. 4
Syntactic Categories
• NP • Adj
• VP •N
•S •P
• AP • Adv
• Det • Aux
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams 2003)

17. Phrase/Constituent Structure Tree
or Phrase Marker
• Graphic representation
• Evaluated, Validated, and Sanctioned
by PS rules
(Payne, 2006)

18. Phrase Structure (PS) Rules
• Ways of representing idealized
patterns of constituent structure
• Specify constituent arrangement
• Recursive
(Payne, 2006 & Rowe & Levine, 2009)

19. Recursion
Repetition
=
Productivity
(Rowe & Levine, 2009)

20. Phrase Structure (PS) Rule
Example:
LABEL → CONTENTS
NP → Det N
the dog → the dog
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003 & Payne, 2006)

21. 1. NP → Det (AP) N (PP)
a small picture of Mary

22. Try this
• the Olympic winners on the
stage

23. 2. NP → NP Conj NP
the cat and the
dog

24. 3. VP → V (NP) (PP) (Adv) (CP)
believes that the student
knows the answer

25. Try these
• slept
• smile shyly
• fled from the house

26. 4. S → NP Aux VP
The men fled
from the
house.

27. Try these
• The boat sailed the river.
• The wind swept the kite into
the sky.

28. Transformational Rules (T-rules)
• Derive a new
structure
• Can be
optional or
obligatory
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams, 2003
& Rowe and Levine, 2009)

29. T-rules
1. Deletion
2. Insertion
3. Movement
4. Substitution

30. 1
Movement Transformation
• Particle
–I took off my shoes.
–I took my shoes off.
• Topicalization
–I love Kris.
–Kris, I love.

31. 2
Deletion Transformation
• Imperative
– You come here.
– Come here.
• Verb Phrase
– If he says he will study for the test, he
will study for the test.
– If he says he will study for the test, he
will.

32. 3
Insertion Transformation
• He knew she was here.
• He knew that she was here.
• *He won the race is history.
• That he won the race is history.

33. 4
Substitution Transformation
• Prominalization
–Tony thought that Tony was the
best.
–Tony thought that he was the best.

35. TG and Teaching Writing
NO to...
• Mimicking textbook sentences
• Teacher correction
YES to...
• Student’s language creativity
• Student’s judgment development
(Cleary & Linn, 1993)

36. Chomsky’s
Linguistics
Contributions
(Lester, 1973)

37. Habit Formation vs. Creativity

38. Knowledge of vs. Knowledge about

39. Universal Grammar
(Fromkin, Rodman, & Hyams 2003)

40. Language Acquisition Device

41. Bibliography
Cleary, L. M., & Linn, M. D. (1993). Linguistics for teachers.
New York: McGraw-Hill.
Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. M. (2003). An
introduction to language (7th ed.). Boston: Thomson,
Heinle.
Google Images. (n.d.). Google. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from
http://www.google.com.ph/imghp?hl=fil&tab=wi
Language Acquisition Device | TeachingEnglish | British
Council | BBC. (n.d.). TeachingEnglish | British Council |
BBC. Retrieved August 7, 2012, from
http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/knowledge-
database/language-acquisition-device

42. Bibliography
Lasnik, H., Depiante, M. A., & Stepanov, A. (2000). Syntactic
structures revisited: contemporary lectures on classic
transformational theory. Cambridge, Mass. [u.a.: MIT
Press.
Lester, M. (1973). Readings in applied transformational
grammar (2nd ed.). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Murcia, M., & Freeman, D. (1983). The grammar book: an
ESL/EFL teacher's course. Rowley, Mass.: Newbury House.
Ouhalla, J. (1994). Introducing transformational grammar:
from rules to principles and parameters. London: E. Arnold.

43. Bibliography
Payne, T. E. (2006). Exploring language structure: a student's guide.
Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Rowe, B. M., & Levine, D. P. (2009). A concise introduction to
linguistics (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon.
Thomas, O., & Kintgen, E. R. (1974). Transformational grammar and
the teacher of English: theory and practice (2nd ed.). New York:
Holt Rinehart and Winston.
Widdowson, H. G. (1996). Linguistics. Oxford: Oxford University
Press.
"facebook.com." Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Aug. 2012.
<https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?
fbid=397305633656134&set=a.1640888
APA formatting by BibMe.org.