Roser Diago Badenes, Francisco Royo Teruel, Maria Gavara Ferreiro
UNIT 1: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF
LINGUISTIC THEORIES
What are the key concepts and principles of linguistics proposed by X and Y?
Key concepts and principles of linguistics proposed by Saussure are a Langue and parole,
which describe the basic ideas of structuralism of linguistics; and diachronic and synchronic
study of language, that they mark the timeline farmwork.
Another band, Key concepts and principles of linguistics proposed by Chomsky are a
Competence that consists of a system of human language that allow speaker to distinguish
grammatical and non-grammatical sentences; and performance that is a specific method in
which it is used in daily communication.
How do their methodologies differ in approaching the study of language?
Their methodologies differ in:
· Chomsky: Chomsky was the one who ignited the cognitive revolution in linguistics. He
argued that language’s ability in human beings is innately genetically and biologically
determined
· Saussure: has laid a fundamental aspect in modern language in the wake of internal -
structuralism view of studying a language. He discovered some instrumental aspect of
linguistics-related study.
What are the major contributions of X and Y to the field of linguistics?
The major contribution of Saussure was the internal structuralism view of studying a
language, because of its instrumental aspect. He distinguished langue (the abstract system
of rules of a language) and parole (actual use of speech and language).
The major contribution of Chomsky was his thesis on transformative grammar analysis,
because he argued that language’s ability in human beings is innately, genetically and
biologically determined.
