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Cited by 600

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 120 of the 120 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Grammar is grammar and usage is usage

Open access
Newmeyer, Frederick J.·2003·Language

Abstract

A number of disparate approaches to language, ranging from cognitive linguistics to stochastic implementations of optimality theory, have challenged the classical distinction between knowledge of language and use of language. Supporters of such approaches point to the functional motivation of grammatical structure, language users’ sensitivity to the frequency of occurrence of grammatical elements, and the great disparity between sentences that grammars generate and speakers’ actual utterances. In this article I defend the classical position, and provide evidence from a number of sources that speakers mentally represent full grammatical structure, however fragmentary their utterances might be. The article also questions the relevance of most corpus-based frequency and probability studies to models of individual grammatical competence. I propose a scenario for the origins and evolution of language that helps to explain why grammar and usage are as distinct as they are.

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Crossref · 10.1353/lan.2003.0260

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Metadata

Authors
Newmeyer, F. J.
Venue
Language
Published
2003-12
Volume
79
Issue
4
Pages
682-707
ISSN
  • 0097-8507 (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-0665
OpenAlex
W2037579050
Cited by
600
References
120
FWCI
153.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
bronze

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