A Squint-eye View of the Development of Syntactic Theories in Recent Years

Abstract

Syntax is the study of sentences as a method of communication. As a student of syntax, one is concerned not only about the formal construction of a well-formed sentence, but also, more importantly, about the way of mapping a given well-formed sentence to the corresponding meaning. The definition of a well-formed sentence perse in a given language is a necessary but rather trivial portion of the syntax of that language, especially because, as we will see, the definition is largely based on the mapping aspect of syntax. By way of illustration, let us consider some of the factors which bring about the meaning differences between any given two sentences. The sentences a and b in (l) differ in meaning. But what causes the difference?