Principles of Grammar and Learning

This insightful work, Principles of Grammar and Learning, explores linguistic competence and proposes a conceptual basis for grammar that is not language-specific.

The book Principles of Grammar and Learning delves into the complex nature of linguistic competence and the cognitive structures that underpin its acquisition and usage. Over recent decades, many experts in linguistics and psychology have suggested that genetically determined categories and principles unique to language are essential for explaining the form and acquisition of grammatical systems. However, William O'Grady presents a compelling alternative perspective, arguing that effective grammars can be created from a conceptual foundation that is not language-specific.

To substantiate his argument, O'Grady introduces a well-structured, single-level, categorial-type grammar. This framework is utilized to analyze various syntactic categories, extraction, anaphora, extraposition, and quantifier placement in English, as well as in other languages. He demonstrates that grammars can be formed through general learning strategies based on concepts such as dependency, adjacency, precedence, and continuity. Furthermore, he points to existing acquisition data that supports the emergence of the principles he advocates.

While the exploration is ambitious, Principles of Grammar and Learning stands out as one of the few serious efforts to develop a theory of grammar and learning that does not rely on faculty-specific innate principles. This book effectively integrates issues and data from syntactic theory, language acquisition, and the broader study of the human mind.