摘要：A question that is sometimes raised about formal grammar is whether it is relevant for understanding our ability to use language to communicate. We believe that it is, and that part of the controversy surrounding this question is due to (i) a misunderstanding of the goal of the study of formal grammar; (ii) different ways in which the term “language” is used and, relatedly, to different views about the relation between language and communication; and (iii) an unwarranted conclusion that if linguistic communication cannot be explained by formal grammar alone, then formal grammar cannot be relevant for understanding linguistic communication.
