another version of "grammar" = everything

Arnold M. Zwicky zwicky at CSLI.STANFORD.EDU
Sun Jun 27 21:48:54 UTC 2004


the usual version is that "grammar" = everything to do with language:
syntax, morphology, word choice, pronunciation, spelling, and
punctuation (at least).  this time, it's "syntax":

Barry Bearak, "Poor Man's Burden", NYT Magazine, 6/27/04, p. 32, about
Lula da Silva, president of Brazil:

His speech lacked syntax; he cut off the S's on his plurals like a
peasant.

---------------

of course, it's possible that Bearak meant these to be two separate
claims (note semicolon, rather than colon), rather than a claim
followed by an illustrative example.

arnold (zwicky at csli.stanford.edu)



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