Preface to the second edition

PREFACE

FOREWORD

Иванова С.В.

Е изд., испр. и доп.

Учебное пособие

В качестве учебного пособия по направлению

Рекомендовано УМО

Of Modern English

Theoretical Grammar

Современного английского языка

Теоретическая грамматика

С.В. Иванова

по классическому университетскому образованию

для студентов высших учебных заведений

подготовки 032700 – «Филология»

Уфа

РИЦ БашГУ

УДК 802.0

ББК 81.2 Англ

И 21

Рецензенты:

Д-р филол. наук, профессор Т.М. Рогожникова (УГАТУ, г. Уфа);

кафедра английского языка БГПУ им. М. Акмуллы (г. Уфа)

Теоретическая грамматика современного английского языка. Theoretical Grammar of Modern English: учебное пособие/ С.В. Иванова. – 4-е изд., испр. и доп. - Уфа: РИЦ БашГУ, 2013. – 237 c.

ISBN

В пособии рассматриваются особенности морфологии и синтаксиса современного английского языка. Пособие снабжено списком литературы, в отдельные рубрики оформлены основные терминологическое словари, а также практические пособия по грамматике английского языка, которые могут найти применение на семинарах в рамках данного курса. Пособие содержит тематический перечень семинарских занятий, которые построены в соответствии с требованиями действующего Государственного образовательного стандарта. Настоящее пособие предназначено для студентов языковых факультетов университетов, а также для более широкого круга специалистов, занимающихся вопросами английской филологии.

Theoretical English grammar is considered by many students as one of the most difficult theoretical courses. It is the course that makes philological education complete and accomplished. Without doubt, it is a challenging course for students. First of all, the material the course surveys and draws upon is immense. Students have to understand and feel at ease discussing different approaches, arguments, and linguists’ contribution to English grammar. Secondly, theoretical grammar is a philosophy of language and its understanding is not an easy job. Students should be able to analyze facts of language, reflect on them and make judgments. Thirdly, this course incorporates facts and theories related to other theoretical subjects, as for example phonology, lexicology, stylistics, general linguistics. The next point, which sometimes also becomes a predicament for students, is the mastery of language and awareness of practical grammar that is the prerequisite for the course. No theoretical assumption can be recognized as grounded unless it has a sufficient empirical base. The list of challenges the course in Theoretical English grammar has for students may be further continued, but it may turn into a list of attractions as well.

The idea of this manual got its shape in the course of time. Teaching practice and lecturing experience were hammer and chisel when it came to deciding what made the bare necessities of the course and what was extra. The present course is focused on the major theoretical issues, significant approaches, breakthrough and insightful ideas. The manual embraces major topics of Theoretical English grammar that are considered essential for a philologist. Though the material of the manual does not contain everything the course in Theoretical English grammar is supposed to embrace, the teaching needs demanded the book appear as is. The aim of the manual is to help students see the logic of linguistic analysis undertaken on the material of English grammar and to apply these principles in their future studies.

The author is enormously indebted to colleagues without whose assistance this book would never have happened. Thanks are due to the reviewers of this book, Professor Tatiana M. Rogozhnikova and Professor Salavat Zh. Nukhov for their favourable reviews and friendly attitude. Grateful acknowledgement is made to Professor Rakhim Z. Muryasov, Dean of the School of Romance and Germanic Languages of Bashkir State University who in every possible way encourages all the efforts and creative activities of the faculty. In many matters, large and small, he has provided invaluable assistance, extraordinary competence, and immaculate expertise. Special thanks go to Professor Zulfira Z. Chanysheva who sets an example of passionate commitment and professionalism. I owe a special debt of gratitude to my teachers in Bashkir State University and the Maurice Torez Moscow State Pedagogical Institute of Foreign Languages who shared their illuminating ideas, scholarly experience, and profound knowledge with me and thus contributed to my education. Many generations of my students should also be given credit for helping me in framing and improving this course.

Svetlana V. Ivanova

Ufa, 2008

This manual is intended for students of the English department of Universities. It is designed as a basic course in Theoretical English Grammar. Thus it focuses on the major aspects of English morphology and syntax and introduces a fair amount of linguistic terminology especially related to grammar studies. The material is laid out as a series of lectures (sections), each containing lists of recommended literature and supplementary reading materials.

The manual consists of the theoretical material, references, and a list of topics for the related course of seminars. References include indispensable materials for the students of Theoretical English grammar. Needless to say there is a much wider scope of theoretical and practical sources used in different ways while preparing the course. These wider materials are referred to in footnotes throughout the book. Nevertheless there is a good deal more to investigate in the field of modern English grammar and its description, that’s why students are encouraged to refer to the Internet resources which could make up for the inevitable brevity of any paper based textbook.

The theoretical material may be divided into five parts. The first block is an introduction to the course and contains background information about the major grammatical theories of the XX^th- XXI^st centuries (Section 1). This vast material is given in the first lecture. It exposes a many-faceted face of modern linguistics and shows major varieties of grammar theory thus revealing the theoretical framework of modern linguistics. The lectures of the next block (Sections 2, 3) focus on major linguistic notions used in grammatical studies. Two lectures (Sections 4, 5) are devoted to the theory of parts of speech. Lectures of the main block (Sections 6-12) dwell upon debatable issues of English morphology, with the verb as the core element of the morphological system. Two lectures (Sections 13, 14) of the final block are related to syntax. It is but a brief overview of basic concepts and issues characterizing the filed of syntax. There is no doubt that the two lectures on syntax are not enough for a modern presentation of this branch of grammar. But they are designed in such a way as to discuss the major notions of syntactic theory. This layout of the manual stems from the original intention to make two manuals: devoted to morphology and to syntax. Nevertheless teaching practice makes it absolutely necessary to introduce the basic areas and assumptions of syntactic theory as well. As it is seen now, this part of the manual will be enlarged and updated.

The material given in the manual is not seen as exhaustive. It is designed as a guide for students. It comprises the basic component of the course in Theoretical English Grammar. Strategies for the use of the manual may be different but as seen by the author students may get familiar with material of the manual and turn to wider sources. Or it is quite possible that students may simply dive into the body of the book and get ready for subsequent seminars and examinations as the material of the lectures contain sufficient information for these forms of student activities.

Thus the aims of the manual are both theoretical and practical. It is supposed to help the students get familiar with major theories and descriptions of English grammar which contribute to understanding the overall system of the language. The material is presented in such a way as to develop awareness of controversial areas and modern approaches to facts of grammar. The layout of the material is aimed at developing analytical thinking, independent judgment and the power of observation on the part of students. In the long run, they should be able to apply their knowledge to teaching practice.

When the first edition of the book was published, it was absolutely clear that the material presented in the book does not cover the whole of the course. But the author’s main intention and incentive was to draw a bottom line and make these materials available to students. Teaching practice made it necessary to enlarge on the lectures that are offered in the manual, to correct some imperfections and to discuss a number of issues which were not included in the first edition.

Even though what is presented here is far from a comprehensive discussion of the available approaches within English grammar, on the whole, the book provides a general introduction to English morphology and syntax, i.e. a foundation for describing the grammatical structure of the English language. An attempt is made to explain and carefully define all the terms which are made use of in the manual. This is done to teach students to be able to give an adequate description of a grammatical system using the proper toolkit. On the other hand, the material under study is closely connected with students’ prior knowledge of English practical grammar. Thus, the material is given in such a way that it can be followed by a set of practical tasks for the students to see how linguistic theory works and what results it can yield if applied.

One new lecture has been added on various approaches to syntactic studies. The aim of the lecture is to show the directions research of syntax may take. The lecture provides information on the current state of affairs in this field. Chunks have been added to a variety of other chapters, on trends of linguistic analysis, on major grammatical notions, on the morpheme, on parts of speech, and some others. In addition, new references have also been added throughout. These new additions are an attempt to make the latest findings in linguistic theory available to students. All this is vivid evidence of a great deal of effort undertaken by modern scholars to present to the full the intricate, interlocking grammatical system of the English language.

S.V.I. April 2011

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