In Noam Chomsky’s definition of grammar, which two features are drawn from mathematics?
A. Complexity
B. Abstraction
C. Transformation
D. Generation

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is D

Explanation:

Noam Chomsky’s definition of grammar incorporates mathematical principles, particularly in his transformational-generative grammar theory. The two features drawn from mathematics are:

• Transformation (C): Refers to the process of applying rules to generate different sentence structures from a base structure. This idea parallels mathematical functions and transformations.
• Generation (D): Refers to the generation of an infinite number of sentences using a finite set of rules, much like algorithms in mathematics.

Chomsky’s approach treats language as a formal system with rules similar to mathematical operations, focusing on the computational and rule-governed nature of grammar.

Information Booster:

1. Chomsky introduced the concept of transformational-generative grammar in his book Syntactic Structures (1957).
2. This model treats language as a recursive system capable of generating infinite sentences.
3. His theory revolutionized linguistics, making it more systematic and computationally analyzable.
4. Transformations include operations like moving, deleting, or inserting elements in sentence structures.

Additional Knowledge:

• Complexity (A): Though Chomsky’s grammar involves complexity, it is not specifically derived from mathematics in his model.
• Abstraction (B): This feature is more philosophical and cognitive rather than a mathematical concept in Chomsky’s theory.