Book Review of Analyzing Grammar: an Introduction

Information about the book

• AUTHOR:  Paul R. Kroeger
• TITLE: Analyzing Grammar
• Subtitle:  An Introduction 
• PUBLISHER: Cambridge University Press
• YEAR: 2005
• Pages: 364
• REVIEWER: Mehdi ZOUAOUI, English Instructor

Summary

The book “Analyzing Grammar: an Introduction” is one of the valuable resources written by Paul R. Kroeger where he delved into dynamics of Grammar. It’s a must-have reference for linguistics majors, young researchers and even fans of the world causality in grammar and why things are the way they are in languages. 

Grammatical Form

In the first chapter, the author begins by talking about grammatical forms and their underlying implications on grammar and how this changes from one language to another. For instance, in one of the chinese dialects there is no explicit word that carries the meaning of “hello” but this meaning is rather conveyed in a different way.The author proposes, per se, that describing the grammar of a given language designates the ability of the speaker to tell apart correct forms from incorrect ones. Having said that, we can see that there are some rules that are consciously learned at schools. These rules tell us how the language should be used and are often called “prescriptive rules”.

Analyzing Word Structure

In the second chapter, the author voices that the method of recurring partials with constant meaning is fulfilled when:

• They can occur in the same environment(s).
• They replace one with the other which leads to a difference in meaning. 

This method is used to recognize contrasting linguistic elements and includes three types:minimal contrast, recurring partials, and pattern-matching.

In the world of words, morphemes, which are according to Hockett (Hockett,1958) the smallest individually meaningful elements in the utterances of a language, stand out into different forms. Morphemes that are usually added to the root morphemes are called “affixes” which affect this root; however, it is not always easy to predict their meanings or functions. Thus, the author suggests some rules for that purpose: 

• An affix is always bound, but a root is often free.
• A root normally carries lexical meaning,and an affix frequently carries only grammatical meaning.
• An affix is always part of a closed class, unlike roots that usually belong to an open class.

After that the author focuses on the topic of representing word structure that can be fulfilled by means of position class chart. This tool demonstrates a position in which a certain class of morphemes can occur and it is important to bear in mind that position class charts are a best fit for language where:

1. Each morpheme has a simple linear ordering relationship with all other morphemes in the same word.
2. Each affix expresses only one grammatical feature or category.
3. All affixes which express the same grammatical category have the same ordering relationships with all other classes of morphemes.

To read the full article go to academia.edu

From Falsity Everything Follows: Readings and Thoughts about Bitter Lake

From Falsity Everything Follows:  

Readings and Thoughts about Bitter Lake

About the Documentary:

“Bitter Lake” is an alternative media documentary directed by Adam Curtis and it  was first aired at BBC iplayer on January 25th, 2015. The documentary talks about the relationship of Afghanistan with the West represented by USA, Middle East represented by Saudi Arabia, and Russia.

The Origin

The West, as most of civilizations, is striving on to depict the version of reality that it wants to spread over the world. A reality that is, to no surprise, adapted to fit the framework of the millennium objectives many USA-related institutions are tinkering with. Within the context of this legacy,  Adam laboured to do that in a form of new model of hybrid reality TV show he called Bitter Lake that represents Great Bitter Lake, a site where The King Abdulaziz met with Roosevelt in the aftermath of Second World War. In Bitter Lakes, Adam Curtis tries to approach Afghanistan affair from an existentialist way where the world that affects our thinking is no longer meaningful and we, the viewers, doers, onlookers, suffer from that disorientation on deciding what is true and what is not. In this project, he also sets aims to infantilize the reductionists outcomes who simplify world’s problems; he does that by offering a mesmerising music background  and offering a novel paradigm of power play dynamics.

Being in Bed with Mosquitoes: the Teacher Scene

“Being in bed with Mosquitoes: The Teacher Scene”

Some of us, during the course of our lives, will try to swim along with the ebb and others against the tide. However, eventually, we all have to swim, willy-nilly, else sinking would be our end. This also includes the world of ideas that people conjure up which consists the most difficult step to starting up an idea, a project, or course of action and this is the kick-off. This fact is corroborated by Statistics that show that 90% of start-ups fail even before starting. So, what is about investing in being a teacher for you? how do we know whether it will be an epic win or a complete fiasco for our career? Since I’m from Algeria, a typical Middle Eastern country, in our patrimony, a teacher is considered to be the legitimate heir of the oracles and prophets because as the former enlightens the minds and hearts so as the latter. Indeed, Prophets use the power of miracles as a proof for their prophecy; while teachers use the power of endurance as a proof that a white paper can be filled with many wonders that have the potential to change the world. This dynamic of change is mainly conveyed by means of language with its broader notional definition that is a set of symbols whether graphic or auditory encoded and arranged in a systematic way.