American linguist known for recursive categorical syntax
Michael K. Brame (January 27, 1944[1] – August 16, 2010[2]) was an American linguist known for his contributions to the field. He served as a professor at the
University of Washington and was the founding editor of the
peer-reviewed research journal, Linguistic Analysis.[3] Brame's work focused on the development of
recursive categorical syntax, also referred to as algebraic syntax, which integrated principles from
algebra and
category theory to analyze sentence structure and linguistic relationships. His framework challenged conventional
transformational grammar by advocating for a lexicon-centered approach and emphasizing the connections between words and phrases. Additionally, Brame collaborated with his wife on research investigating the identity of the author behind the name "
William Shakespeare", resulting in several publications.[1] His legacy is marked by his impactful contributions to linguistic theory and his exploration of language intricacies.
This article needs attention from an expert in Linguistics. The specific problem is: need more complete and accurate summary of RCS.WikiProject Linguistics may be able to help recruit an expert.(October 2022)
Recursive Categorical Syntax (RCS), also known as algebraic syntax, is a linguistic framework that integrates concepts from
algebra and
category theory to model sentence structure and linguistic relationships. It is a type of
dependency grammar, and is related to
link grammars. It views words and phrases as mathematical entities, employing algebraic operations to depict their combinations within sentences. Brame's insight that "transformations simply do not exist"[6] challenges
transformational-generative grammar, advocating for a lexicon-centered perspective.
By formalizing word connections, algebraic syntax enhances our understanding of syntax while simplifying traditional grammar, thus embracing the recursive nature of language and the hierarchical arrangement of linguistic elements, as seen in Brame's assertions that "the lexicon must be elaborated"[6] and "deep structure falls along with the classical transformations once the lexicon is taken seriously."[6] This approach contributes to a comprehensive and mathematical grasp of sentence formation and linguistic structure.
As Brame emphasized, this approach relies on a non-associative
groupoid structure with inverses to accurately represent the complex interactions of
lexical items (words and phrases), or lexes for short. A LEX is a lexicon containing string representations of a word or idiomatic phrase together with a notation specifying what other classes of word or phrase can bond with the string.[7][6]
Shakespeare's Fingerprints
In 2002, Brame co-authored with his wife Galina Popova a book titled Shakespeare's Fingerprints.[8][1][9] Over the next two years, they published three more books on the topic.
Brame, Michael K. (1976). Conjectures and Refutations in Syntax and Semantics. North Holland: Elsevier Science.
ISBN978-0444001856.
Brame, Michael K. (1978). Base Generated Syntax. Linguistics research monograph series. Vol. 1. Seattle: Noit Amrofer Publishing Company.
ISBN978-0932998002.
Brame, Michael K. (1979). Essays Toward Realistic Syntax. Linguistics research monograph series. Vol. 2. Seattle: Noit Amrofer Publishing Company.
ISBN978-0932998019.
Hust, J. R.; Brame, M. K. (1976). "Jackendoff on interpretive semantics-Review of Semantic Interpretation in Generative Grammar by Jackendoff, R.". Linguistic Analysis. 2 (3): 243–277.
Brame, M. K. (1977). "Alternatives to the Tensed S and specified subject conditions". Linguistics and Philosophy. 1 (3): 381–411.
doi:
10.1007/BF00353455.
S2CID62609527.
Brame, M. (1981). "The general theory of binding and fusion". Linguistic Analysis. 7 (3). Seattle: 277–325.
Brame, M. (1982). "The head-selector theory of lexical specifications and the nonexistence of coarse categories". Linguistic Analysis. 10 (4). Seattle: 321–325.
Recursive categorical syntax
Brame, M. (1984). "Universal Word Induction vs Move α". Linguistic Analysis. 14 (4). Seattle: 313–352.
Brame, M. (1984). "Recursive categorical syntax and morphology". Linguistic Analysis. 14 (4). Seattle: 265–287.
Brame, M. (1985). "Recursive Categorical Syntax II: n-arity and Variable Continuation". Linguistic Analysis. 15 (2–3). Seattle: 137–176.
Brame, M. (1987). "Recursive Categorical Syntax III: d-Words, l-Words, and dl-Induction". Linguistic Analysis. 17 (3–4). Seattle: 147–185.
Hoeksema, Jack (2020). "Head-types in morpho-syntax". In Booij, Geert; van Marle, Jaap (eds.). Yearbook of Morphology. Vol. 1. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Mouton. pp. 123–138.
doi:
10.1515/9783112329528-008.
ISBN978-3112329528.
Lambek, Joachim (2012). "Deductive Systems and Categories in Linguistics". In Ohlbach, Hans Jürgen; Reyle, Uwe (eds.). Logic, Language and Reasoning: Essays in Honour of Dov Gabbay. Netherlands: Springer Netherlands. pp. 279–294.
ISBN978-9401145749.