Deep structure and surface structure (also D-structure and S-structure although those abbreviated forms are sometimes used with distinct meanings) are concepts used in linguistics, specifically in the study of syntax in the Chomskyan tradition of transformational generative grammar.
The deep structure of a linguistic expression is a theoretical construct that seeks to unify several related structures. For example, the sentences "Pat loves Chris" and "Chris is loved by Pat" mean roughly the same thing and use similar words. Some linguists, Chomsky in particular, have tried to account for this similarity by positing that these two sentences are distinct surface forms that derive from a common (or very similar[1]) deep structure.
Chomsky coined and popularized the terms "deep structure" and "surface structure" in the early 1960s.[2] American linguist Sydney Lamb wrote in 1975 that Chomsky "probably [borrowed] the term from Hockett".[3] American linguist Charles Hockett first used the dichotomous pair "deep grammar" vs "surface grammar" in his 1958 book titled A Course in Modern Linguistics. Chomsky first referred to these Hockettian concepts in his 1962 paper The Logical Basis of Linguistic Theory (later published as Current Issues in Linguistic Theory in 1964). In it Chomsky noted that "the difference between observational and descriptive adequacy is related to the distinction drawn by Hockett (1958) between 'surface grammar' and 'deep grammar', and he is unquestionably correct in noting that modern linguistics is largely confined in scope to the former."[4]
In Chomskyan linguisticsEdit
In early transformational syntax, deep structures are derivation trees of a context-free language. These trees are then transformed by a sequence of tree rewriting operations ("transformations") into surface structures. The terminal yield of a surface structure tree, the surface form, is then predicted to be a grammatical sentence of the language being studied. The role and significance of deep structure changed a great deal as Chomsky developed his theories, and since the mid-1990s deep structure no longer features at all[5] (see minimalist program).
It is tempting to regard deep structures as representing meanings and surface structures as representing sentences that express those meanings, but this is not the concept of deep structure which Chomsky favoured. Rather, a sentence more closely corresponds to a deep structure paired with the surface structure derived from it, with an additional phonetic form obtained from processing of the surface structure. It has been variously suggested that the interpretation of a sentence is determined by its deep structure alone, by a combination of its deep and surface structures, or by some other level of representation altogether (logical form), as argued in 1977 by Chomsky's student Robert May. Chomsky may have tentatively entertained the first of these ideas in the early 1960s, but quickly moved away from it to the second, and finally to the third. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the generative semantics movement put up a vigorous defence of the first option, sparking an acrimonious debate, the "Linguistics Wars".[6]
Chomsky noted in his early years that by dividing deep structures from surface structures, one could understand "slip of the tongue" moments (where someone says something that he did not intend) as instances where deep structures do not translate into the intended surface structure.[7]
Extension to other fieldsEdit
The "surface" appeal of the deep structure concept soon led people from unrelated fields (architecture, music, politics, and even ritual studies) to use the term to express various concepts in their own work. In common usage, the term is often used as a synonym for universal grammar—the constraints which Chomsky claims govern the overall forms of linguistic expression available to the human species. This is probably due to the importance of deep structure in Chomsky's earlier work on universal grammar, though his concept of universal grammar is logically independent of any particular theoretical construct, including deep structure.
According to Middleton (1990), Schenkerian analysis of music corresponds to the Chomskyan notion of deep structure, applying to a two-level generative structure for melody, harmony, and rhythm, of which the analysis by Lee (1985) of rhythmical structure is an instance. (See also: Chord progression § Blues changes.)
^In the first formulations of transformational grammar, active and passive pairs had identical deep structures. As the theory developed, it became necessary to mark whether a sentence was active or passive in the deep structure itself, with the result that active/passive pairs had almost-but-not-quite identical deep structures.
Chomsky, Noam (1981), Lectures on Government and Binding, The Hague: Mouton, ISBN9783110141313
Chomsky, Noam (1986), Barriers, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press
Kordić, Snježana (1991). "Transformacijsko-generativni pristup jeziku u Sintaktičkim strukturama i Aspektima teorije sintakse Noama Chomskog" [Transformational-generative approach to language in Syntactic structures and Aspects of the theory of syntax of Noam Chomsky] (PDF). SOL: Lingvistički časopis (in Serbo-Croatian). 6 (12–13): 103–112. ISSN 0352-8715. S2CID 186964128. SSRN 3445224. CROSBI 446914. ZDB-ID 1080348-8. (CROLIB). (PDF) from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2021.
Lamb, Sydney (2006), "Mutations and Relations", Language and Reality: Selected Writings of Sydney Lamb, London and New York: Continuum
C. S. Lee (1985). "The rhythmic interpretation of simple musical sequences: towards a perceptual model", in P. Howell, I. Cross and R. West (eds.), Musical Structure and Cognition (Academic Press), pp. 53–69.
Richard Middleton (1990). Studying Popular Music. Open University Press.
Sakai, Yuko (2017a). Sentence Generation: Syntax Tree Diagram in English, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Ainu. Createspace. ISBN978-1545429006
Sakai, Yuko (2017b). English Syntax Tree Diagram: Based on Universal Sentence Structure. Createspace. ISBN978-1547232208
L. Samovar & R. Porter (2003). Communication between Cultures. Wadsworth Publishing.
August 29, 2023
deep, structure, surface, structure, also, structure, structure, although, those, abbreviated, forms, sometimes, used, with, distinct, meanings, concepts, used, linguistics, specifically, study, syntax, chomskyan, tradition, transformational, generative, gramm. Deep structure and surface structure also D structure and S structure although those abbreviated forms are sometimes used with distinct meanings are concepts used in linguistics specifically in the study of syntax in the Chomskyan tradition of transformational generative grammar The deep structure of a linguistic expression is a theoretical construct that seeks to unify several related structures For example the sentences Pat loves Chris and Chris is loved by Pat mean roughly the same thing and use similar words Some linguists Chomsky in particular have tried to account for this similarity by positing that these two sentences are distinct surface forms that derive from a common or very similar 1 deep structure Contents 1 Origin 2 In Chomskyan linguistics 3 Extension to other fields 4 See also 5 Notes 6 ReferencesOrigin EditChomsky coined and popularized the terms deep structure and surface structure in the early 1960s 2 American linguist Sydney Lamb wrote in 1975 that Chomsky probably borrowed the term from Hockett 3 American linguist Charles Hockett first used the dichotomous pair deep grammar vs surface grammar in his 1958 book titled A Course in Modern Linguistics Chomsky first referred to these Hockettian concepts in his 1962 paper The Logical Basis of Linguistic Theory later published as Current Issues in Linguistic Theory in 1964 In it Chomsky noted that the difference between observational and descriptive adequacy is related to the distinction drawn by Hockett 1958 between surface grammar and deep grammar and he is unquestionably correct in noting that modern linguistics is largely confined in scope to the former 4 In Chomskyan linguistics EditIn early transformational syntax deep structures are derivation trees of a context free language These trees are then transformed by a sequence of tree rewriting operations transformations into surface structures The terminal yield of a surface structure tree the surface form is then predicted to be a grammatical sentence of the language being studied The role and significance of deep structure changed a great deal as Chomsky developed his theories and since the mid 1990s deep structure no longer features at all 5 see minimalist program It is tempting to regard deep structures as representing meanings and surface structures as representing sentences that express those meanings but this is not the concept of deep structure which Chomsky favoured Rather a sentence more closely corresponds to a deep structure paired with the surface structure derived from it with an additional phonetic form obtained from processing of the surface structure It has been variously suggested that the interpretation of a sentence is determined by its deep structure alone by a combination of its deep and surface structures or by some other level of representation altogether logical form as argued in 1977 by Chomsky s student Robert May Chomsky may have tentatively entertained the first of these ideas in the early 1960s but quickly moved away from it to the second and finally to the third Throughout the 1960s and 1970s the generative semantics movement put up a vigorous defence of the first option sparking an acrimonious debate the Linguistics Wars 6 Chomsky noted in his early years that by dividing deep structures from surface structures one could understand slip of the tongue moments where someone says something that he did not intend as instances where deep structures do not translate into the intended surface structure 7 Extension to other fields EditThe surface appeal of the deep structure concept soon led people from unrelated fields architecture music politics and even ritual studies to use the term to express various concepts in their own work In common usage the term is often used as a synonym for universal grammar the constraints which Chomsky claims govern the overall forms of linguistic expression available to the human species This is probably due to the importance of deep structure in Chomsky s earlier work on universal grammar though his concept of universal grammar is logically independent of any particular theoretical construct including deep structure According to Middleton 1990 Schenkerian analysis of music corresponds to the Chomskyan notion of deep structure applying to a two level generative structure for melody harmony and rhythm of which the analysis by Lee 1985 of rhythmical structure is an instance See also Chord progression Blues changes See also EditUnderlying representationNotes Edit In the first formulations of transformational grammar active and passive pairs had identical deep structures As the theory developed it became necessary to mark whether a sentence was active or passive in the deep structure itself with the result that active passive pairs had almost but not quite identical deep structures Kordic 1991 pp 105 106 Lamb 2006 p 179 Chomsky 1964 p 30 Cipriani Enrico Semantics in Generative Grammar A Critical Survey Lingvisticae Investigationes Harris Randy Allen 1995 The Linguistics Wars Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 509834 X Carlson et al Neil R 2005 Psychology The Science of Behaviour 3rd Canadian Edition Pearson pp 310 311 ISBN 0 205 45769 X References EditChomsky Noam 1957 Syntactic Structures The Hague Paris Mouton ISBN 978 3 11 021832 9 Chomsky Noam 1964 Current Issues in Linguistic Theory The Hague Mouton ISBN 9783110867565 Chomsky Noam 1965 Aspects of the Theory of Syntax Cambridge Massachusetts MIT Press Chomsky Noam 1981 Lectures on Government and Binding The Hague Mouton ISBN 9783110141313 Chomsky Noam 1986 Barriers Cambridge Massachusetts MIT Press Kordic Snjezana 1991 Transformacijsko generativni pristup jeziku u Sintaktickim strukturama i Aspektima teorije sintakse Noama Chomskog Transformational generative approach to language in Syntactic structures and Aspects of the theory of syntax of Noam Chomsky PDF SOL Lingvisticki casopis in Serbo Croatian 6 12 13 103 112 ISSN 0352 8715 S2CID 186964128 SSRN 3445224 CROSBI 446914 ZDB ID 1080348 8 CROLIB Archived PDF from the original on January 16 2013 Retrieved 11 September 2021 Lamb Sydney 2006 Mutations and Relations Language and Reality Selected Writings of Sydney Lamb London and New York Continuum C S Lee 1985 The rhythmic interpretation of simple musical sequences towards a perceptual model in P Howell I Cross and R West eds Musical Structure and Cognition Academic Press pp 53 69 Richard Middleton 1990 Studying Popular Music Open University Press Sakai Yuko 2017a Sentence Generation Syntax Tree Diagram in English Spanish Chinese Japanese Ainu Createspace ISBN 978 1545429006 Sakai Yuko 2017b English Syntax Tree Diagram Based on Universal Sentence Structure Createspace ISBN 978 1547232208 L Samovar amp R Porter 2003 Communication between Cultures Wadsworth Publishing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Deep structure and surface structure amp oldid 1161288386, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
