Traditional grammar was initially based
on European languages, particularly on Latin and Greek. It is the most
widespread and elaborate grammar and is widely used in language teaching, thus
termed pedagogic grammar. In analyzing sentences, the method adopted is called parsing. This generally involves five
aspects: (1) identifying elements of the sentence, labeling the parts as
subject, predicate, object, attribute, adverbial, etc.; (2) identifying part of
speech of each word; (3) pointing out the inflection of the words; (4)
describing the relationship between the words; (5) generalizing the order of
words. Fundamentally, this approach to the analysis of sentence structure is
notional in nature. It classifies words and parts of sentences mainly according
to meaning.
While traditional
grammar is well established, its weaknesses are pinpointed by modern linguists.
Firstly, it is prescriptive in nature, attempting to lay down rules for
speakers of a language. Secondly, its grammatical categories are merely based
on European languages and are found inadequate in describing other languages.
Thirdly, it lacks a theoretical framework and thus fails to account for the
nature of language.
Structural grammar arose out of an attempt to deviate from traditional
grammar. In the early years of the twentieth century, American anthropologists
and linguists began to describe American Indian languages, as many of these
tribal languages were dying. They tried to innovate ways of analysis, because
they found some traditional grammatical categories based on European languages
unfeasible in describing those native languages of America. Among their
innovations, two concepts are influential in linguistic studies.
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