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Restricting grammatical complexity
Author(s) -
Frank Robert
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
cognitive science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.498
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1551-6709
pISSN - 0364-0213
DOI - 10.1207/s15516709cog2805_3
Subject(s) - generative grammar , syntax , computer science , grammar , restrictiveness , emergent grammar , artificial intelligence , linguistics , relational grammar , abstract syntax , grammatical evolution , mildly context sensitive grammar formalism , natural language processing , genetic programming , philosophy
Theories of natural language syntax often characterize grammatical knowledge as a form of abstract computation. This paper argues that such a characterization is correct, and that fundamental properties of grammar can and should be understood in terms of restrictions on the complexity of possible grammatical computation, when defined in terms of generative capacity. More specifically, the paper demonstrates that the computational restrictiveness imposed by Tree Adjoining Grammar provides important insights into the nature of human grammatical knowledge.