Article Title：Goodman, Quine, and Chomsky: from a grammatical point of view
Abstract：
This paper explores specific issues concerning linguistic theory and the use of simplicity criteria in the early Transformational Generative Grammar literature. In particular, the influence of Nelson Goodman and Willard Van Orman Quine upon the work of Noam Chomsky during the 1950s is assessed. The main topics considered include the development of constructional system theory, the use of mechanical procedures for measuring the formal simplicity of extralogical bases in constructional systems, and the way in which Chomsky adapted these techniques in order to facilitate the analysis of natural language. In this context, the influence of constructive nominalism upon Chomsky's early work is also considered. Finally, the relationship between the notion of simplicity in 1950s-style generative grammar and more recent discussions of economy in the Minimalist Program is assessed. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: simplicity; economy; constructional system theory; Carnap; Goodman; Quine; Chomsky
DOI: 10.1016/S0024-3841(03)00017-2
Source：LINGUA
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