Logical grammar

Logical grammar or rational grammar is a term used in the history and philosophy of linguistics to refer to certain linguistic and grammatical theories that were prominent until the early 19th century and later influenced 20th-century linguistic thought. These theories were developed by scholars and philosophers who sought to establish a logical and rational basis for understanding the relationship between reality, meaning, cognition, and language. Examples from the classical and modern period represent a realistic approach to linguistics, while accounts written during the Age of Enlightenment represent rationalism, focusing on human thought.[1][2]

Logical, rational or general grammar was the dominant approach to language until it was supplanted by romanticism.[3] Since then, there have been attempts to revive logical grammar. The idea is today at least partially represented by categorial grammar, formal semantics, and transcendental phenomenology,

  1. ^ Gamut, L. T. F. (1982). Logic, Language and Meaning. Volume II: Intensional Logic and Logical Grammar. University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-28084-5.
  2. ^ Rieux, Jacques; Rollin, Bernard E. (1975). "Translators' introduction". In Rieux, Jacques; Rollin, Bernard E. (eds.). General and Rational grammar: The Port-Royal Grammar by Antoine Arnauld and Claude Lancelot. Mouton. pp. 18–31. ISBN 90-279-3004-X.
  3. ^ Thomas, Margaret (2004). Universal Grammar in Second-language Acquistition: a History. Routledge. ISBN 9781134388547.