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language construction
- 1. 2.2 Language construction To define more expressive infinite languages, we need a richer system for constructing new surface forms and associated meanings. We need ways to describe languages that allow us to define an infinitely large set of surface forms and meanings with a compact notation. The approach we use is to define a language by defining a set of rules that produce exactly the set of surface forms in the language. Components of Language. A language is composed of: •Primitives — the smallest units of meaning. •Means of combination — rules for building new language elements by combining simpler ones. The primitives are the smallest meaningful units (in natural languages these are known as morphemes). A primitive cannot be broken into smaller parts whose meanings can be combined to produce the meaning of the unit. The means of combination are rules for building words from primitives, and for building phrases and sentences from words. Since we have rules for producing new words not all words are primitives. For example, we can create a new word by adding anti- in front of an existing word.
- 2. The meaning of the new word can be inferred as “against the meaning of the original word”. Rules like this one mean anyone can invent a new word, and use it in communication in ways that will probably be understood by listeners who have never heard the word before. For example, the verb freeze means to pass from a liquid state to a solid state;antifreeze is a substance designed to prevent freezing. English speakers who know the meaning of freeze and anti- could roughly guess the meaning ofantifreeze even if they have never heard the word before.1 Primitives are the smallest units of meaning, not based on the surface forms. Both anti and freeze are primitive; they cannot be broken into smaller parts with meaning. We can break anti- into two syllables, or four letters, but those sub-components do not have meanings that could be combined to produce the meaning of the primitive. Means of Abstraction. In addition to primitives and means of combination, powerful languages have an additional type of component that enables economic communication: means of abstraction. Means of abstraction allow us to give a simple name to a complex entity. In English, the means of abstraction are pronouns like “she”, “it”, and “they”.
- 3. The meaning of a pronoun depends on the context in which it is used. It abstracts a complex meaning with a simple word. For example, the it in the previous sentence abstracts “the meaning of a pronoun”, but the it in the sentence before that one abstracts “a pronoun”. In natural languages, there are a limited number of means of abstraction. English, in particular, has a very limited set of pronouns for abstracting people. It has her and him for abstracting a female or male person, respectively, but no gender- neutral pronouns for abstracting a person of either sex. The interpretation of what a pronoun abstract in natural languages is often confusing. For example, it is unclear what the it in this sentence refers to. Languages for programming computers need means of abstraction that are both powerful and unambiguous.