Chapter 5. Sámuel Brassai in the history of dependency grammar
-
András Imrényi
Abstract
The paper presents the syntactic work of Sámuel Brassai with special regard to his dependency-based theory of the sentence. Brassai is already relatively well-known as a pioneer in the study of information structure, where his discoveries predate Gabelentz by several years. The present work aims to show that Brassai also developed a consistently dependency-based theory of syntax long before Tesnière. The paper first discusses the motivations and influences underpinning Brassai’s work. Secondly, it presents Brassai’s verb-centred theory, expressed both metaphorically and by sentence diagrams. The latter appeared as early as 1873, thus Brassai may well have been the first to produce verb-centred dependency diagrams of clause structure. Finally, we show that Brassai’s discovery of a bipartite (information structural) division of the sentence does not amount to an early adoption of constituency; rather, it is seamlessly integrated into his dependency-oriented approach.
Abstract
The paper presents the syntactic work of Sámuel Brassai with special regard to his dependency-based theory of the sentence. Brassai is already relatively well-known as a pioneer in the study of information structure, where his discoveries predate Gabelentz by several years. The present work aims to show that Brassai also developed a consistently dependency-based theory of syntax long before Tesnière. The paper first discusses the motivations and influences underpinning Brassai’s work. Secondly, it presents Brassai’s verb-centred theory, expressed both metaphorically and by sentence diagrams. The latter appeared as early as 1873, thus Brassai may well have been the first to produce verb-centred dependency diagrams of clause structure. Finally, we show that Brassai’s discovery of a bipartite (information structural) division of the sentence does not amount to an early adoption of constituency; rather, it is seamlessly integrated into his dependency-oriented approach.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Aspects of the theory and history of dependency grammar 1
- Chapter 1. Syntactic relations in ancient and medieval grammatical theory 23
- Chapter 2. The notion of dependency in Latin grammar in the Renaissance and the 17th century 59
- Chapter 3. How dependency syntax appeared in the French Encyclopedia 85
- Chapter 4. Dependency in early sentence diagrams 133
- Chapter 5. Sámuel Brassai in the history of dependency grammar 163
- Chapter 6. Franz Kern 189
- Chapter 7. Some aspects of dependency in Otto Jespersen’s structural syntax 215
- Chapter 8. The Russian trail 253
- Index nominum 277
- Index rerum 279
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Aspects of the theory and history of dependency grammar 1
- Chapter 1. Syntactic relations in ancient and medieval grammatical theory 23
- Chapter 2. The notion of dependency in Latin grammar in the Renaissance and the 17th century 59
- Chapter 3. How dependency syntax appeared in the French Encyclopedia 85
- Chapter 4. Dependency in early sentence diagrams 133
- Chapter 5. Sámuel Brassai in the history of dependency grammar 163
- Chapter 6. Franz Kern 189
- Chapter 7. Some aspects of dependency in Otto Jespersen’s structural syntax 215
- Chapter 8. The Russian trail 253
- Index nominum 277
- Index rerum 279
