Grammar and lexis

We argued in Chapter 2 that there are classes of word which relate to all aspects of grammar. The whole basis of pattern grammar is that patterns relate to groups or classes of words which share meanings. Class also relates to structure and orientation. As they acquire the language, learners observe regularities in the language, and which words in the language are associated with those regularities. They go on to allocate those words to classes according to their meaning and use, and go on from this to form hypotheses about the behaviour of other words. In putting together phrases, clauses and sentences we draw not only on the basic rules governing clause and phrase structure, but also on the behaviour of individual words.

Once we see language from this perspective then lexis and the behaviour and patterning of individual words assume an enormous importance. And if we accept this, then the concept of class becomes central both to language description and to language learning. It is this concept of class which provides a link between grammar and lexis. When we learn words we also need to learn about their behaviour, their place in structure and the way they pattern with other words.

In Chapters 4 to 7 we have looked at different aspects of grammar– structure, orientation and pattern. As we have done this, we have looked at words and phras which fulfil particular functions and, very often, at ways of classifying those words.