Definition and Discussion of Comparative Grammar

Comparative grammar  is the branch of linguistics primarily concerned with the analysis and comparison of the grammatical structures of related languages or dialects.   The term comparative grammar was commonly used by 19th-century philologists. However,  Ferdinand de Saussure regarded comparative grammar as a misnomer for several reasons, the most troublesome of which is that it implies the existence of a scientific grammar other than that which draws on the comparison of languages (Course in General Linguistics, 1916). In the modern era, notes  Sanjay Jain et al., the branch of linguistics  known as comparative grammar is  the attempt to characterize the class of (biologically possible) natural languages through formal specification of their grammars; and a theory of  comparative grammar is  such a specification of  some definite collection. Contemporary theories of comparative grammar begin with Chomsky . . . , but there are several different proposals currently under investigation (Systems That Learn: An Introduction to Learning Theory, 1999). Also Known As:  comparative philology Observations If we would understand the origin and real nature of grammatical forms, and of the relations which they represent, we must compare them with similar forms in kindred dialects and languages . . ..[The task of the comparative grammarian] is to compare the grammatical forms and usages of an allied group of tongues and thereby reduce them to their earliest forms and senses.(Grammar, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1911)Comparative Grammar--Past and PresentContemporary work in comparative grammar, like the comparative work carried out by nineteenth-century grammarians, is concerned with establishing [an] explanatory basis for the relationships between languages. The work of the nineteenth century focused on relationships between languages and groups of languages primarily in terms of a common ancestry. It assumed a view of linguistic change as by and large systematic and lawful (rule governed) and, on the basis of this assumption, attempted to explain the relationship between languages in terms of a common ancestor (often a hypothetical one for which there was no actual evidence in the historical record). Contemporary comparative grammar, in contrast, is significantly broader in scope. It is concerned with a theory of grammar that is postulated to be an innate component of the human mind/brain, a faculty of language that provides an explanatory basis for how a human being can acquire a first language (in fact, any human language he or she is exposed to). In this way, the theory of grammar is a theory of human language and hence establishes the relationship among all languages--not just those that happen to be related by historical accident (for instance, via common ancestry).(Robert Freidin, Principles and Parameters in Comparative Grammar. MIT, 1991)

Internet Privacy in the Modern World - 2644 Words

Introduction The internet’s debut in 1988 which had revolutionized commercial transactions all around the globe had grown exponentially over the past decade. In fact, the world internet users and population statistics by the Miniwatts Marketing Group (2009) showed that 23.5% of the world’s population are internet users and that the growth of internet users from 2000-2008 is 336.1 %. This rapid increase in internet users paved the way for the development of electronic commerce or E-commerce. E-commerce, the exchange of information, goods or services online, had also gained popularity over time as more and more people discover the expediency of online transactions. However, the internet, which is a huge storage room of information, poses†¦show more content†¦Google, which is the most popular search engine today, is feared by many. As expressed by Jesdanun (2001), â€Å"Although many internet users eagerly await technology from Google, Inc., it’s rapid expansion is al so promoting concerns that the company may know too much: what you read, where you surf and travel and whom you write.† According to Chris Hoofnagle, senior counsel of the Electric Privacy Information Center,† This is a lot of information in a single basket. Google is becoming one of the largest privacy risks on the internet† (as cited by Jesdanun,2001). In, addition to search engines there are spywares whose existence places computer users under constant surveillance by strangers. Spyware may be described as any software that uses a person’s internet connection as a backdoor approach intended to access personal or business information, without the knowledge or consent of the computer user. Spyware is often introduced into computers when people download files off the internet. File sharing can pose risks of spyware download, when people download music, movie or other types of p2p file sharing programs. Marketing and promotional companies use spyware as an effective tool, to access and collect information from computers. Spyware enables them to observe sites being visited, products being bought, chat line discussions, topics of interest, online searches by the user and the information obtained, allows the marketingShow MoreRelatedPrivacy in the Online World Essay1221 Words   |  5 PagesPrivacy is something we don’t r eally think about. Privacy is the last thing that comes up in our minds. The Internet is easily accessed by many people and can be hacked to find out important private information about anyone. People all over the world access the Internet, and when private information is posted online one person is going to be able to view that information no matter the privacy setting a person may use. 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The Issue Of Children Born Into Poverty - 1445 Words

Draft Paper (thesis) The debate whether children born into poverty are able to transcend poverty? Is a problem this country has tried to solve since public schools were established. Inexperienced teachers are part of the problem for the high drop out rate. A government who fails to fund and implement correct methods in education. â€Å"U.S. Commissioner of education Francis Keppel 48 years ago, wrote equality of educational opportunity throughout the nation continues today for the many to be more of a myth than a reality† this statement is true today as then ( Kozol, 83). At risk students learn in a hostile environment. â€Å"More than one in three people in Newark lived below the poverty line. The violent crime rate was so consistently high that a 1996 Times Magazine article dubbed Newark the most dangerous city in America. The public high school rate was below 60 percent†. Why would we let our children go to school or live in an area where no business or politician would work? If these children are not educated the future of this country work force is in doubt. The decline of the educational system will involve even more problems for the deprived. There are steps which can be taken, but are we willing to take these steps? There are few who leave their poverty background. A change in our educational system must take place so the under privileged can advance. Poor in America do not suffer the amount of suffering as the poor in Yemen and other parts of the world. In America mostShow MoreRelatedPoverty And Its Effects On Children985 Words   |  4 PagesPoverty doesn’t have preferences, it doesn’t choose people by race, religion, or age. Many people don’t see the effects poverty has on people or sometimes they don’t care but you should. What if you were put in the situation where you lost everything and weren’t able to recover. Now imagine this is your child. Many people put a generic face upon poverty. 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Teenage pregnancy and the road to poverty Poverty is a major problem most teenage mother’s

Horace - Adversity free essay sample

What I believe that Horace is trying to say through â€Å"Adversity has the effect of electing talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant† is that challenges bring about innate talents in individuals which would have otherwise been undiscovered. Through personal experiences and the novel â€Å"The Scarlet Letter† I can certainly justify why this quote is not completely accurate. Adversity is merely a stimulant, but a person’s own character is what drives him to be successful. One of the experiences I had with this line in real life happens with immigrants. Immigrants, such as my own parents, have to work extremely hard to escape their own impoverished nation and migrate to a first world county such as the United States or Europe. Once they migrate, their children don’t nearly have to face the same difficulties as they had. Horace’s quote claims that the children should now turn out less successful than their parents. We will write a custom essay sample on Horace Adversity or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page But this is not the case. These kids from these immigrants rise to the top. By having better living conditions and more opportunities than their parents, these kids are able to compete with local children and be highly successful. Although one might argue that adversity was the reason the immigrants were able to succeed in finding the willpower and determination to come to these new nations, it does not explain why their children were so successful. I believe that the children saw their parents struggle and chose themselves to work hard and be successful. Just as a parent can only push their child to do better in school but only the child can decide wheatear to or not, adversity can only stimulate a response; it cannot cause an individual to be suddenly prosperous. Just as we can see how adversity doesn’t cause people to find hidden talents and prosper against all odds in real life, it also applies in literature. In the novel â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†, Hester Prynne doesn’t become motivated to find a new face in the town by the difficulties she faced after public demotion but rather it was her characteristics and innate determination which led her to overcome the challenges present. These characteristics were present before and after the public demotion proving that adversity doesn’t cause individuals to be suddenly more powerful merely with a challenge. Every challenge requires determination and willpower to overcome. It is not the challenge itself which causes people to find these essential elements. Individuals don’t magically find innate abilities and talents when presented a challenging task. It requires a combination of  determination and confidence to overcome these tasks which will something rarely result in the discovery of innate talents. But most of the time, it is just a discovery of making decisions and responsibility. Challenges come often, but they rarely result in the discovery of hidden talents. People know their talents and need to use them to overcome the challenges. We see this in the real world though the children of immigrants as well as in â€Å"The Scarlet Letter†. Adversity does not find innate talents for people b ut rather it is the person themselves.