Phrase and Paraphrase: Some Innovative Uses of Language

by Lila R. Gleitman, Henry Gleitman

The generative transformational approach to the study of language, under the leadership of Noam Chomsky, has already made significant contributions to cognitive psychology. In this volume, the authors examine the fundamental distinction linguists have made between competence (the speaker-listener's knowledge of his language) and performance (the actual speech and comprehension). Phrase and Paraphrase provides new insights into creativity as it relates to language structure. By analyzing the speaker's ability to invent and recognize constructional phrases, the authors show that various aspects of linguistic performance heretofore considered by many linguists "irrelevant performance deficits" are actually consequences of intrinsic linguistic organization.

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971