The Generative Grammar in the school: thinking linguistically

Abstract

Since the generative program has gained strength in language studies, one of the most frequently asked questions is whether it can have any impact on the school, that is, how the program can be used to teach grammar. The teaching of grammar is an issue that has been widely discussed by Portuguese language teachers and linguists, with proposals ranging from a review of the grammar to its total abandonment. However, we believe that the teaching of grammar should be maintained, but not as it is. We can revise some conceptions of grammar teaching, among them, grammar as prescriptive discipline, grammar teaching as transmission of textbook content or of the grammars themselves etc. The purpose of this work is then to review these concepts and develop some theoretical notions (and practices) with which the Chomsky program has advanced. Therefore, this work seeks to show how some generative notions can be used in school, with two central objectives: the first is to encourage formalism and research in school, that is, to flourish the students’ scientific thinking, and the second, linguistic production.

Keywords

• Gramática
• Gerativismo
• Escola