The Definitions of Grammar Mastery

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

A. Theoretical Description

1. Grammar Mastery

a. The Definitions of Grammar Mastery

Grammar has been identified in many different ways and perspectives. Some experts argue that grammar consists of the study of syntax and morphology, and others argue that it only refers to syntax. According to Galaso 2002: 3 and Radford 2009: 1 that grammar is divided into two inter-related studies consisting morphology and syntax. Morphology is the study of how words are formed out of smaller units. And Syntax, on the other hand, is the study of how words are formed in a phrase, a clause, or a sentence. Jeffries 2006: 6 states that grammar in the term of syntax is the study of words are structured in phrases and sentences. Based on the definitions above I in this research will focus on grammar correlating with syntax. Harmer 2001: 12 defines: “Grammar of a language is the description of the ways in which words can change their forms and can be combined into sentences in that language.” According to Ur 2009: 87, Grammar is a set of rules that define how words or parts of words are combined or changed to form acceptable units of meaning within a language. She also adds that Grammar does not only affect how units of language are combined in order to look right; it also affects their meaning. Meanwhile Greenbaum and Nelson 2002: 1 define that 10 commit to user grammar is the set of rules that allow us to combine words in our language into larger units. Another term for grammar in this sense is syntax. Donald and Kneale, 2001: 78-79 state: “Grammar is the science which formulates rules to describe the workings of language.” Further, Brinton and Brinton 2010: 7 add that grammar is as the rules or principles by which a language works, that is, its system or structure. Meanwhile Brindley 1994: 198-201 defines that grammar is 1 Correct or incorrect? A way of prescribing usage? Only found in standard English? Unchanging? 2 Maintaining standards? ‘Proper’ English? Closely connected with reinforcing discipline and maintaining social order? 3 A useful discipline? Parts of speech like nouns and adjectives? Gender and tenses? Based on Latin grammar? 4 A description of usage? Rules every speaker of a native language knows implicitly? The structure of words, clauses and sentences? From the explanation above, it is concluded that grammar is the principals to combine or change the rules of language such as tenses to form a meaningful and correct language.

b. The Aspects of Grammar Mastery