The Application of Transformational-generative Grammar in the Stylistic Analysis

Abstract： The transformational generative grammar is regarded as a revolution in the field of linguistics for it has a great impact on other fields. The essay will respectively discuss the relationship between transformation and stylistic analysis and between generation and stylistic analysis. At last it is concludes that the theory can not explain some literature works which abandons the grammatical rules in order to produce literary flavor， so it should be revised and improved.

Key words: TG; stylistic analysis; application

1、The relationship between TG and text

1.1 The relationship between transformation grammar and text

Generally speaking， the concept of transformation， with a greater ability to explain sentences， is regarded more basic and revolutionary. Therefore， people get a deeper understanding about the nature of language.

The transformational theory gets complex when it is used to describe the syntactic structure. Gradually， it has formed a set of unique principles and rules which are still being revised and improved. The following will introduce the relationship between the transformation and text.

First， transformation defines the relationship between the deep structure and surface structure of a sentence.

Secondly， it can be transformation between a sentence and another. It can be also applied to other forms of sentences.

1.2 The relationship between generative grammar and text

Speaking of generative grammar， it refers that the linguists try to build a model of language competence for the native language speakers. It attempts to give a set of rules that will correctly predict which combinations of words will form grammatical sentences. In most approaches to generative grammar， the rules will also predict the morphology of a sentence.

The generative grammar studies not only about the structure that has direct relation with the facts which can be observed from the language， but also about the linguistic structure that has no direct relation with those facts. On the other hand， TG theory is essentially psychological， and J.J.Katz indicates that the traditional stylistics is essentially psychological. The only difference is that it is obvious in the generative grammar but not that obvious in the analysis of literature context. Thus， it is safe to say that only the psychological grammar can provide the appropriate foundation for the analysis of stylistics.

2、The application of the TG in the analysis of the literature context.

As listed above， some theories have elaborated the relationship of the TG and the analysis of the literature context. It is possible for us now to apply those theories to the analysis of a certain literature work. In the following， an example will be analyzed based on TG theory. Let’s read The Scarlet Letter written by Hawthorn.

The door of the jail being flung open from within the appeared， in the first place， like a black shadow emerging into sunshine， the grim and gristly presence of the town-beadle， with a sword by his side， and nis staff of office in his hand. This personage prefigured represented in his aspect the whole dismal severity of the Puritanic code of the law， he laid his right upon the shoulder of a young woman， whom he thus he drew forward until， on the threshold of the prison-door， she repelled him， by an action marked with natural dignity and force of character， and stepped into the open air if by her own free will. She bore in her arms a child， a baby of some three months old， who winked and turned aside its little face from the too vivid light of day.

From the perspective of TG， it is characterized by 3 transformational features:

(1). Relative clause transformation.

(2). Embedded constituent transformation.

(3). Nominalization transformation.

In fact， the core sentences of these four sentences are simple:

The town-beadle appeared.

He prefigured and represented the (severe) Puritanic code of law.

She repelled him and stepped into the open air.

She bore a child in her arms.

Through a series of transformations， it not only helps explain the sentences in different styles but also provides a foundation for the judgment of literature style.

3、 Conclusion

TG theory， however， is limited in some way. For some poets， they often abandon the grammatical rules in order to produce some vivid effect or for the purpose of literary flavor. Thus we can conclude that some ungrammatical sentences sometimes are much more vivid than those created in a grammatical way. Thus， the surface structure is derived from different deep structures. However， the relevant rules have not been created so far. So， to express our complex thought more clearly， the grammar should be updated constantly.

Bibliography:

[1] A.N Chomsky， Syntactic Structure， [M]. Paris: Mouton Press， 1957.

[2] Andrew Radlford. Transformational Grammar: a first course [Z]. 北京：外語教學與研究出版社， 2000.