Aspects of the Theory of Syntax First Edition - Noam Chomsky - Bauman Rare Books

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Aspects of the Theory of Syntax

Noam CHOMSKY

Item#: 108553 We're sorry, this item has been sold

Aspects of the Theory of Syntax

Aspects of the Theory of Syntax

"THE FATHER OF MODERN LINGUISTICS": NOAM CHOMSKY'S RARE FIRST BOOK, ASPECTS OF THE THEORY OF SYNTAX, 1965 FIRST EDITION

CHOMSKY, Noam. Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The M.I.T. Press, (1965). Octavo, original blue cloth, original dust jacket.

First edition of Chomsky's elusive first book, "the first concerted approach to investigating the human mind through a systematic study of how people produce and understand sentences… equated with Darwin's theory of evolution and Freud's theory of the unconscious in terms of its importance in the history of ideas"—a very nice copy in the original dust jacket.

Noam Chomsky is "the father of modern linguistics and remains the field's most influential practitioner… Mr. Chomsky's introduction of his theory of language in 1957 [in his monograph "Syntactic Structures," which he developed into the present book, his first], often called the Chomsky revolution, has been equated with Darwin's theory of evolution and Freud's theory of the unconscious in terms of its importance in the history of ideas: it was the first concerted approach to investigating the human mind through a systematic study of how people produce and understand sentences… Mr. Chomsky was by nature a questioner—and, where he deemed necessary, an exploder—of received truths. Over the years, this trait became evident in his political work, including his early opposition to the Vietnam War, his outspoken condemnation of United States policy in Central America, East Timor and elsewhere, and his castigation of the mainstream news media for what he describes as complicity with governmental and business interests… Language, Mr. Chomsky came to believe, was rooted not in behavior but in biology, in an inborn set of principles that speakers unconsciously draw on whenever they produce or understand sentences. The goal of linguistics, he argued, should be to reproduce these principles. Since one couldn't go mucking around in people's brains, the linguist would attempt instead to mirror the workings of these inborn principles with a set of abstract, quasi-mathematical rules intended to generate the range of possible sentences in a given language—in other words, a generative grammar" (New York Times, Dec. 5, 1998).

A fine copy of this scarce title.

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Aquatint Copperplate process by which the plate is “bitten” by exposure to acid. By changing the areas of the plate that are exposed and the length of time the plate is submerged in the acid bath, the engraver can obtain fine and varying shades of gray that closely resemble watercolor washes. Although the name contains the word “tint”, this is a black-and-white printing process; aquatint plates can often be hand colored, however.
Armorial Used to describe a binding bearing the coat of arms of the original owner, or with bookplates incorporating the owner’s arms.
Association Copy copy that belonged to someone connected with the author or the contents of a book.
Boards Hard front and rear covers of a bound book which are covered in cloth, leather or paper. “Original boards” refers to cardboard-like front and back boards, from about 1700 to 1840, used as temporary protection for books before their purchasers would have them bound. Of particular value to collectors as evidence of a very early form of the book.
Book-Plate Label, generally affixed to the front pastedown, identifying a book’s owner.
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Calf Binding material made from cowhide—versatile, durable, usually tan or brown in color, of smooth texture with no or little apparent grain. Readily marbled (“tree calf”), mottled, diced, colored, polished, tooled in gilt or blind, even scented (known as “russia”). Reverse calf, with a distinctive suede-like texture, is occasionally used.
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Duodecimo (12MO) Smaller than an octavo, typically less than six inches tall; smaller formats, such as 24mo and 32mo, are uncommon.
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Errata List of mistakes and corrections noted after printing, often compiled on a separate sheet or slip and inserted into the text block.
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Japanese Vellum Expensive handmade paper often used in deluxe editions.
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Trade Edition Printing or printings of a book made available for purchase by the general public on publication day (as opposed to a limited edition, often available only by subscription).
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Wormhole Tiny pinhole-sized trails left by bookworms as they eat through a text block. Much more common in older books printed on handmade papers with a high rag content than in books printed on manufactured papers made from wood pulp with a higher acidic content.
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