Основы теоретической грамматики английского языка

SHORT LECTURE COURSE ON THEORETICAL GRAMMAR 
Lecture 1. The scope of theoretical grammar 
Outline 
1. Grammar in the systemic conception of language. 
2. Language is a system of means of expression. 
3. Hierarchy of levels within the system of language 
 GRAMMAR IN THE SYSTEMIC CONCEPTION OF LANGUAGE 
Language is a means of forming and storing ideas as reflections of reality and exchanging 
them in the process of human intercourse. Its main function is being communicative. It 
incorporates three constituent parts: 
- 
phonological system 
- 
lexical system 
- 
grammatical system 
Each of the aforesaid is studied by a particular linguistic discipline. Grammar can be 
regarded from the practical or theoretical point of view. The aim of theoretical grammar is to 
give a theoretical description of the grammatical system of a given language, or to scientifically 
analyze and define its grammatical categories and to study the mechanisms of grammatical 
formation of utterances out of words. 
Another aim is to consider mood controversial points on which different points of view can 
be expressed. 
It is worth noting that English grammatical theory is represented by a number of 
grammatical schools. The most influential of them are: 
- 
the classical scientific grammar (Henry Sweet, Jespersen, etc) 
- 
American structural or descriptive linguistics (Bloomfield, Wells, Nida, Hocket, 
Fries, Trager, Smith, Pike) 
- 
Transformational generative linguistics (Harris, Chomsky) 
- 
The Soviet school - Vinogradov, Smirnitsky, Barkhudarov, Reformatsky, 
Vorontsova, Ilyish, Solntsev.
Systemic character of language is especially stressed in Middle English. Its constituent 
parts form the Microsystems within the framework of the macrosystem of language. This 
approach was developed by the Russian scholars, Boduen de Kuortane, Ferdinand de Saussure. 
They outlined the difference between speech proper and language proper.