生成语法学方法论

Methodology of Generative Linguistics

1 前言 从1978年起我国语言学界开始比较系统地介绍生成语法。这些年来发表了好些介绍性文章,可是真正用生成语法写的研究论文还屈指可数。我们的读者一般还不习惯阅读生成语法研究论文(例如 Linguistic Inquiry上刊登的文章)。经常有人问:为什么对传统语法研究的许多问题不感兴趣?

This is a metalinguistic introduction to the nature and properties of generative grammar. The firstpart shows that while distinguished by definition from the activities of language learning or philosophicalstudy, linguistic inquiry in the framework of generative grammar is similar to other empirical sciences interms of guiding aims, objectives to be pursued, criteria for knowledge and formalization of theories. Thesecond part systematically considers various aspects involved in linguistic research-formulation of scien-tific problems, theoretical description of underlying reality, explanation of problematic data, predictionabout unknown phenomena and justification and criticism of hypotheses and theories. Illustrations usedin exposition are purposefully chosen from issues of current interest regarding the theory of Government andBinding.