I’m curious about your “system that doesn’t require a strict taxonomy”. Is that written up anywhere? Also, does your work have any relevance to how children should be taught grammar in school?
One key concept in my system is the Theta Role and the associated rule. A phrase can only have one structure for each role (subject, object, determiner, etc).
I don’t have much to say about teaching methods, but I will say that if you’re going to teach English grammar, you should know the correct grammatical concepts that actually determine English grammar. My research is an attempt to find the correct concepts. There are some things that I’m confident about and some areas where the system needs work.
One very important aspect of English grammar is argument structure. Different verbs characteristically can and cannot take various types and combinations of arguments, such as direct objects, indirect objects, infinitive complements, and sentential complements. For example, the word “persuade” takes a sentential (that-) complement, but only when also combined with a direct object (“I will persuade [him] that the world is flat” is incorrect without the direct object). In contrast, the verb “know” can take either a direct object or a that-complement, but not both. To speak English fluently, you need to memorize all these combinations, but before you memorize them, you need to know that the concept exists.
I’m curious about your “system that doesn’t require a strict taxonomy”. Is that written up anywhere? Also, does your work have any relevance to how children should be taught grammar in school?
I haven’t written it up, though you can see my parser in action here.
One key concept in my system is the Theta Role and the associated rule. A phrase can only have one structure for each role (subject, object, determiner, etc).
I don’t have much to say about teaching methods, but I will say that if you’re going to teach English grammar, you should know the correct grammatical concepts that actually determine English grammar. My research is an attempt to find the correct concepts. There are some things that I’m confident about and some areas where the system needs work.
One very important aspect of English grammar is argument structure. Different verbs characteristically can and cannot take various types and combinations of arguments, such as direct objects, indirect objects, infinitive complements, and sentential complements. For example, the word “persuade” takes a sentential (that-) complement, but only when also combined with a direct object (“I will persuade [him] that the world is flat” is incorrect without the direct object). In contrast, the verb “know” can take either a direct object or a that-complement, but not both. To speak English fluently, you need to memorize all these combinations, but before you memorize them, you need to know that the concept exists.
Daniel, I’m curious too. What do you think about Fluid Construction Grammar? Can it be a good theory of language?