Noam Chomsky: gramatikaren teoria eta hizkuntzaren filosofia

Abstract

This is a survey paper on so me of the relevant themes of Chomsky's línguistícs and philosophy of language. We provide some basic biographical information and a discussion of some of the most important aspects of his contribution to the theory of grammar. Chomsky's research program in the theory of grammar, started 50 years ago with the publication of Syntactic Structures (1957), and can be said to have revolutionized línguistic inquiry, at the same time that it launched what is today called the "cognitíve revolution" in the study of mind. We present in a succínct manner some basic concepts of Chomsky's theorizing, including the idea of a specíalized mental organ for the acquisitíon of language (Universal Grammar), the choice of I-Ianguage as the relevant target of theoretical research, and the formal elaboration of an explicit, generative theory of grammar. We also ofter a perspective on the way Chomsky's línguistícs conflicts with so me classical views in the philosophy of language concerning the mind/body problem, intentíonalíty or the evolution of language. Finally, we present a brief outline of his recent Minimalist Program, which focuses on the nature of the design features of language.