An Analysis of Grammatical Transformations on the Basis of the Notion of Valency: From Tesnière to Chomsky

Verb valency is central to dependency grammar, but its role in generative grammar is ambiguous. The first theory gives a central role to verbs, determines certain groups of relations among the components of a sentence, and assumes free valence around key elements of a sentence, especially for verbs. The second theory is based on formal and relational structures of subject and predicate and assumes the generation of grammatical layers. The main objective of this study is to compare the two grammars to find out if Chomsky's sentential transformations are controlled by the concept of valency or not, and to discover how verbal valency affects the basic structure of a sentence and determines the surface structure. In order to answer these questions, the authors have first taken a look at new analytical and developmental views on Tesnière's theory through examples. Then, by an analytical approach, the authors have provided a comparative study of Tesnière and Chomsky's views. According to Tesnière, speech acts like the translation of a “linear system” into a “syntactic system”. Conversely, the action of understanding in its turn acts like the translation of a syntactic system into a linear one. He differentiates between both and believes that the syntactic system is not necessarily linear. Moreover, by defining a concept of zero (free) valency, Tesnière’s approach is better able to explain the transformations and permutations in the sentences compared to Chomsky’s approach. The concept of "universal sentence" in Chomsky’s theory seeks to describe the abilities of language users in the production of complex sentences.

By analyzing some examples in this study, the authors have shown that Chomsky’s approach, which considers the transformations of a sentence as an ability of the main to accept additional ones, is more similar to Tesnière’s approach. Chomsky’s theory, takes into accounts a free place for an additional syntagma to explain the development of the basic structure as well. So, this syntagmatic load resembles free valence in Tesnière’s theory. The results showed that as a dynamic system, language automatically creates free valence around or next to central elements and ultimately provides the possibility of certain grammatical transformations.