Syntactic Structures by Noam Chomsky

Syntactic Structures by Noam Chomsky - Quiz

1. In 'Syntactic Structures', published in 1957, Noam Chomsky revolutionized the field of linguistics with his introduction of transformational grammar, proposing that the syntactic structure of language is not merely a set of arbitrary rules but instead reflects an underlying cognitive capability inherent to humans. Chomsky argued that this innate grammar allows individuals to generate and understand an infinite set of sentences, despite only being exposed to a finite amount of linguistic input during their development. The book critiques the behaviorist view that language acquisition can be explained solely through conditioning and imitation, instead positing that children possess an intrinsic understanding of grammar that guides their learning. This work laid the foundation for modern linguistics, influencing various domains such as cognitive science, philosophy, and psychology, while also sparking extensive debates regarding the nature of language, thought, and the universal principles that govern all human languages. Chomsky's innovative ideas continue to shape linguistic theory and inspire ongoing research into the complexities of language structure and acquisition.

What year was Noam Chomsky's 'Syntactic Structures' first published?

A) 1971
B) 1965
C) 1957
D) 1948

2. According to 'Syntactic Structures', the primary goal of linguistics is to...

A) Construct a formal theory of grammar.
B) Describe the historical evolution of language.
C) Teach people how to speak correctly.
D) Catalog all the world's languages.

3. Chomsky argues that a grammar should be a system of rules that can...

A) Translate sentences between different languages.
B) Define the meaning of every word.
C) Predict how language will change over time.
D) Generate all and only the grammatical sentences of a language.

4. The concept of 'linguistic competence' refers to a speaker-hearer's...

A) Implicit knowledge of their language.
B) Ability to speak multiple languages.
C) Public speaking skills.
D) Formal education in grammar.

5. Chomsky's approach to syntax is primarily...

A) Functional.
B) Generative.
C) Structuralist.
D) Behaviorist.

6. To address the limitations of phrase structure rules, Chomsky introduced...

A) Semantic rules.
B) Phonological rules.
C) Pragmatic rules.
D) Transformational rules.

7. In Chomsky's model, a transformational rule operates on...

A) The meaning of individual words.
B) The sound waves of speech.
C) The underlying phrase structure of a sentence.
D) The social context of an utterance.

8. The sentence 'Colorless green ideas sleep furiously' is used by Chomsky to illustrate that...

A) Poetry violates grammatical rules.
B) Adjectives must agree with nouns.
C) Grammaticality is independent of meaning.
D) All sentences must be meaningful.

9. According to 'Syntactic Structures', the grammaticality of a sentence is a matter of its...

A) Clarity and simplicity.
B) Conformity to the rules of the grammar.
C) Acceptability to all native speakers.
D) Truth value or factual accuracy.

10. What does Chomsky mean by an 'adequate' theory of language?

A) It must be applicable to computer programming.
B) It must be easy for children to learn.
C) It must be based on observable speech data only.
D) It must account for the linguistic intuition of the native speaker.

11. Chomsky's work in 'Syntactic Structures' was a direct challenge to which school of thought?

A) Romanticism.
B) Empiricism.
C) Behaviorism.
D) Platonism.

12. A 'finite-state grammar' is rejected by Chomsky because it is...

A) Inadequate for describing natural language.
B) Too complex to be learned.
C) Focused only on word meaning.
D) A type of transformational grammar.

13. The book begins with the assertion that linguistics is a subfield of...

A) Anthropology.
B) Sociology.
C) Psychology.
D) Biology.

14. The kernel of a language, as discussed in the book, consists of...

A) All possible questions.
B) The most frequently used words.
C) Simple, active, declarative sentences.
D) Sentences with complex metaphors.

15. A phrase structure rule like 'S -> NP VP' indicates that...

A) A sentence is synonymous with a noun phrase.
B) A sentence can be rewritten as a Noun Phrase and a Verb Phrase.
C) A verb phrase must come before a noun phrase.
D) All sentences must have a verb.

16. A transformational rule would be used to derive a passive sentence from...

A) A meaningless string.
B) A question.
C) A single word.
D) An active sentence.

17. Chomsky's theory proposes that language has...

A) Primary and secondary meanings.
B) Written and spoken forms.
C) Deep structure and surface structure.
D) Formal and informal registers.

18. The concept of 'recursion' in syntax allows for...

A) The embedding of phrases within phrases.
B) The creation of new words.
C) Words to change their pronunciation.
D) Sentences to be translated.

19. The 'Standard Theory' that developed from 'Syntactic Structures' includes which component?

A) A component that ignores syntax.
B) A list of all possible sentences.
C) A syntactic component with base and transformational rules.
D) A component solely for social context.

20. Which of these is a type of transformation discussed in 'Syntactic Structures'?

A) Metaphorical transformation
B) Historical sound change
C) Passive transformation
D) Semantic shift

21. What famous sentence does Chomsky use to illustrate the difference between grammaticality and meaningfulness?

A) "The cat sat on the mat."
B) "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously."
C) "It was a dark and stormy night."
D) "To be or not to be, that is the question."

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