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Difference between revisions of “Grammar”
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'''Grammar''' is | '''Grammar''' (/græmə/) is [[system]] of language that describes the way components of a [[natural language]] are used. It includes [[morphology]] and [[syntax]], often complemented by [[phonetics]], [[phonology]], and [[semantics]]. | ||
Each language has its own distinct grammar. | Each [[language]] has its own distinct grammar. “English grammar" is a description of the way the [[English]] language is used. A reference book describing the grammar of a language and presented in a "rules" format is called a "reference grammar" or simply “a grammar.” | ||
A fully explicit grammar exhaustively describing the grammatical constructions of a language is called a [[descriptive grammar]]. This can be contrasted with a [[prescriptive grammar]], which tries to enforce some hypothetical governing rules about how a language should be used. | |||
== Teaching grammar == | |||
[[category:grammar]] | It is probably inevitable that English language [[coursebook]]s created for the instruction of non-native speakers will be well into the prescriptive side of the descriptive/prescriptive spectrum. [[Teacher]]s should be aware that the grammatical explanations presented in such books are explicitly simplified for consumption by non-native students and may not always represent the whole truth. | ||
Those who would like a more profound understanding might wish to read ''[[The English Verb]]'' by [[Michael Lewis]] - a book specifically written with such native language teachers in mind. | |||
Nevertheless teachers who have to work from a coursebook should be careful about criticizing it to their students as this may cause them to start to lose faith in all the material in the book, a consequence which would impede their learning. | |||
==Teacher’s tip== | |||
For teachers looking to giving their students extra grammar work, ''How English Works'' (Oxford ISBN 0-19-431456-1), by [[Michael Swan]] and Catherine Walter is excellent for [[self study]]. | |||
For teachers themselves, Swan speaks highly of ''The Cambridge Grammar of English'', by Carter and McCarthy; ''The Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language'' ([[Longman]], 1985) by [[Quirk]], [[Greenbaum]], [[Leech]] and Svartvik; and ''The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language'' ([[CUP]], 2003), by Huddleston, Pullum ''et al''.<ref>[http://www.mikeswan.co.uk/elt-applied-linguistics/all-about-grammar.htm “Coffee with Michael Swan: all about grammar"]</ref> | |||
==References== | |||
<references/>{{index}} | |||
[[category:grammar| ]] | |||
[[category:systems]] | |||
Latest revision as of 14:31, 19 January 2023
Grammar (/græmə/) is system of language that describes the way components of a natural language are used. It includes morphology and syntax, often complemented by phonetics, phonology, and semantics.
Each language has its own distinct grammar. “English grammar" is a description of the way the English language is used. A reference book describing the grammar of a language and presented in a "rules" format is called a "reference grammar" or simply “a grammar.”
A fully explicit grammar exhaustively describing the grammatical constructions of a language is called a descriptive grammar. This can be contrasted with a prescriptive grammar, which tries to enforce some hypothetical governing rules about how a language should be used.
Teaching grammar[edit | edit source]
It is probably inevitable that English language coursebooks created for the instruction of non-native speakers will be well into the prescriptive side of the descriptive/prescriptive spectrum. Teachers should be aware that the grammatical explanations presented in such books are explicitly simplified for consumption by non-native students and may not always represent the whole truth.
Those who would like a more profound understanding might wish to read The English Verb by Michael Lewis - a book specifically written with such native language teachers in mind.
Nevertheless teachers who have to work from a coursebook should be careful about criticizing it to their students as this may cause them to start to lose faith in all the material in the book, a consequence which would impede their learning.
Teacher’s tip[edit | edit source]
For teachers looking to giving their students extra grammar work, How English Works (Oxford ISBN 0-19-431456-1), by Michael Swan and Catherine Walter is excellent for self study.
For teachers themselves, Swan speaks highly of The Cambridge Grammar of English, by Carter and McCarthy; The Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language (Longman, 1985) by Quirk, Greenbaum, Leech and Svartvik; and The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CUP, 2003), by Huddleston, Pullum et al.[1]
