<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>It is argued that the source of complexity in language is twofold: repetition, and syntactic embedding. The former enables us to return again and again to the same subject across many sentences, and to maintain the coherence of an argument. The latter is governed by two forms of complexification: the functor-argument structure of all languages and the operator-bound-variable mechanism of familiar formal languages. The former is most transparently represented by categorial grammar, and an extension of this can adequately describe the syntax of variable binders. Both developments have roots within the work of the Lvov-Warsaw School.</p></abstract>

It is argued that the source of complexity in language is twofold: repetition, and syntactic embedding. The former enables us to return again and again to the same subject across many sentences, and to maintain the coherence of an argument. The latter is governed by two forms of complexification: the functor-argument structure of all languages and the operator-bound-variable mechanism of familiar formal languages. The former is most transparently represented by categorial grammar, and an extension of this can adequately describe the syntax of variable binders. Both developments have roots within the work of the Lvov-Warsaw School.

Linguistic Complexity and Argumentative Unity: A Lvov-Warsaw School Supplement

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

{"article-title":"Linguistic Complexity and Argumentative Unity: A Lvov-Warsaw School Supplement"}

It is argued that the source of complexity in language is twofold: repetition, and syntactic embedding. The former enables us to return again and again to the...

Linguistic Complexity and Argumentative Unity: A Lvov-Warsaw School Supplement

Published Online: Apr 12, 2014

Page range: 101 - 119

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2014-0005

Keywords
categorial grammar, complexity, cohesion, definition, functor, operator, proof

© Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Linguistic Complexity and Argumentative Unity: A Lvov-Warsaw School Supplement

Published Online: Apr 12, 2014

Page range: 101 - 119

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/slgr-2014-0005

Keywordscategorial grammar, complexity, cohesion, definition, functor, operator, proof

© Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Keywords
categorial grammar, complexity, cohesion, definition, functor, operator, proof