[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/jespersen-1924-philosophy-grammar/)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [docs](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/) / [papers](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/) / The Philosophy of Grammar

# The Philosophy of Grammar

**Authors:** [Otto Jespersen](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/authors/otto-jespersen/) · **Year:** 1924 · **Venue:** book (London: G. Allen & Unwin) **Link:** [archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325](https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325) **License of the paper:** Public domain (author died 1943; published 1924, PD in the US) — [archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325](https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325)

grammar-book[licence](https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325)

- [Publisher's page](https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325)
- [PDF](https://archive.org/download/dli.bengal.10689.9325/10689.9325_text.pdf)

**Authors (1)**

1. Otto Jespersen

Citations and author metrics from OpenAlex (); authors with the same name are not always told apart.

## Summary

A theoretical book in which Jespersen steps back from describing English to ask what grammatical categories are and how they relate to the categories of thought. He separates syntactic categories (forms a language actually marks) from notional categories (meanings any language may express), and argues that the two should not be confused. He introduces the theory of ranks, where words in a phrase are primary, secondary or tertiary according to their function, and contrasts junction (an attribute joined to a head, "the barking dog") with nexus (a predication, "the dog barks"). The book discusses number, person, case, tense, mood, voice and negation from a cross-linguistic perspective, with examples from many languages. It also discusses ellipsis phenomena such as "prosiopesis", where the opening of an utterance is dropped in speech ("Thank you", "Hope I'm not boring you").

## How Mova uses it

- Cited in 2 seeds and 3 executable rules of the grammar expert system (en/src/expert.rs).
- Prosiopesis is used as a principled exception: subjectless finite verbs such as "Thank you" or "Hope you're well" are exempted in the rules `finite-has-subject` and `parataxis-has-subject` (en/seeds/verbal/finite-verb-subject.md).
- The same notion explains a dropped sentence-initial article ("Room was amazing") as an exception in the missing-article rule (en/seeds/errors/missing-article.md).
- Its separation of notional and syntactic categories is background reading for the language-independent annotation work (annot).

## Effectiveness in Mova

Plays a narrow role: it supplies exceptions for a few rules, which reduce false alarms. The "finite verb has a subject" rule went from 257 violations on EWT train to 9 (plus 17 in `parataxis-has-subject`) after the rule language gained exceptions and the rule was reworked. This change combined several sources, so this book's share is not measured separately.

---

👨‍🔬💥

## Cite

The paper itself, not this card. BibTeX from the library's record of the work.

```
@book{jespersen1924philosophy,
  title = {{The Philosophy of Grammar}},
  author = {Jespersen, Otto},
  year = {1924},
  url = {https://archive.org/details/dli.bengal.10689.9325}
}
```

- [← previous A Modern English Grammar on Historical Principles, Parts II–VI](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/jespersen-1914-modern-english-grammar-historical/)
- [next → Learning to Reason Deductively: Math Word Problem Solving as Complex Relation Extraction](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/jie-2022-learning-reason-deductively-math-word/)
- [↑ back to papers](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/papers/)

## References

10 references, 0 of them with a card of ours. ↗ leads to the work, «find» searches for one we have no id for yet.

1. Asboth Gramm == O. Asboth, Kurze runner he Grammatik, Leipzig 1904. Bally J.V =. Ch. Bally, Le Langagt tl la Vie, GenAve 1913. St = Traitd de Stylistique Franfaitr, Heidelberg 1909. Bloomfield SL •= L. Bloomfield, An Introduction to the Study of Language, New York 1914. Boyer et Sporanski M — P. Boyer et N. Sporanski, Manuel pour l'Etude dt la Langur Russe, Paris 1903. Bradley ME = H. Bradley, The Making oj English, London 1904. BrAal M = M. BrtSal, Mflange* de Mythologie et de Linguistique, Paris 1882. S — Essai de Semantique, Pans 1897. Brugmann Ks =. K. Brugmann, Vrsprung de* Scheinaubjekt* ‘ et,' Leipzig 1914. KG — Kurze Vergleichende Grammatik, Straaaburg 1904. VG — Grundriee der Vergleichenden Grammatik, 2to Auag., StroFsburg 1897 IT. Versch — = Verechiedenheiten der Satzgestaltung, Leipzig 1918. Brunot PL = F. Brunot, La Pcnste et la Isangue, Paris 1922. ChE = O. Jospersen, Chaptere on English, London 1918. Curme GO — G. O. Curme, A Grammar of the German Language, 2nd ed., New York 1922. Dan. = Danish. DelbrQck GXS = B. Delbrflck, Grundlagen der Neuhoehdeulechen Satzlehre, Borlin 1920. Synt. ■=> Vergletchende Syntax der Indogermanitchen Sprachen, Strassburg 1893. Deutechboin SNS «=» M. Deutechbein, System der Neuengliechen Syntax, Cdthen 1917. Dies QRS = F. Diez, Grammatik der Romanitchen Sprachen, 4te AufL, Bonn 1870. E. •=• English. Eliot FG =» C. N. E. Eliot, A Finnish Grammar, Oxford 1890. ESt = Englische Studien. Falk As Torp DNS = Hjalmar Falk og All Torp, Danek-norsken* syntax, Kristiania 1900. Fr. — French. Q. a German. Gabelentz Spr = O. e. d. Gabelentz, Die Sprachwistentchafl, Leipzig 1891. Qinneken LP —■ J. ▼. Ginneken, Principe* dt Linguistique Ptychologique, Amsterdam, Paris 1907. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Asboth+Gramm+%3D%3D+O%2E+Asboth%2C+Kurze+runner+he+Grammatik%2C+Leipzig+1904%2E+Bally+J%2EV+%3D%2E+Ch%2E+Bally%2C+Le+Langagt+tl+la+Vie%2C+GenAve+1913%2E+St+%3D+Traitd+de+Stylistique+Franfaitr%2C+Heidelberg+1909%2E+Bloomfield+SL+%E2%80%A2%3D+L)
2. Or. *■> Greek. 08 mm 0. Jespersen, Growth and Structure o] the English Language, 4th ed., Leipzig and Oxford 1923. Hanseen Sp. Or. =— P. Hansaen, Spanisch* Grammatik, Halle 1910. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Or%2E+%2A%E2%96%A0%3E+Greek%2E+08+mm+0%2E+Jespersen%2C+Growth+and+Structure+o%5D+the+English+Language%2C+4th+ed%2E%2C+Leipzig+and+Oxford+1923%2E+Hanseen+Sp%2E+Or%2E+%3D%E2%80%94+P%2E+Hansaen%2C+Spanisch%2A+Grammatik%2C+Halle+1910%2E)
3. IF mm Indogermanische Forschungen. It. mm Italian. Keynea FL — J. N. Keynes, Studies and Exercises in Formed Logic, 4th ed., London 1906. KZ — Kuhn’s Zeitschri/t fur Vergleichende Sprachforschung. Lang. (Language) =• O. Jespersen, Language, its Nature, Development and Origin, London 1922. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=IF+mm+Indogermanische+Forschungen%2E+It%2E+mm+Italian%2E+Keynea+FL+%E2%80%94+J%2E+N%2E+Keynes%2C+Studies+and+Exercises+in+Formed+Logic%2C+4th+ed%2E%2C+London+1906%2E+KZ+%E2%80%94+Kuhn%E2%80%99s+Zeitschri%2Ft+fur+Vergleichende+Sprachforschung%2E+Lan)
4. Lat. ■— Latin. LPh =• O. Joaperson, Lehrbuch dtr Phonetik, 3te Aufl., Leipzig 1920. Madvig K1 <=• J. N. Madvig, Kleine Philologische Schriften, Leipzig 1875. MEO — O. JeH|>eraen, Modem English Grammar, Heidolberg 1909, 1914. Meillet Or =» A. Meiilet, Apergu d'une Histoire de la Longue Grecque, Paris 1013. LI —• Introduction d Vitude des Langues Indo-Europitnnes, 2e 4d., Paris 1908. LH =■> Linguistique Historique et Linguistique Qinirale, Paris 1921. Meyer-LQbko Einfiihr. — W. Meyer-LObke, Einfuhrung in das Stadium der Romanischen Sprachwiesenschaft, 2te Aufl., Heidelberg 1909. Mikkelscn DO = Kr. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Lat%2E+%E2%96%A0%E2%80%94+Latin%2E+LPh+%3D%E2%80%A2+O%2E+Joaperson%2C+Lehrbuch+dtr+Phonetik%2C+3te+Aufl%2E%2C+Leipzig+1920%2E+Madvig+K1+%3C%3D%E2%80%A2+J%2E+N%2E+Madvig%2C+Kleine+Philologische+Schriften%2C+Leipzig+1875%2E+MEO+%E2%80%94+O%2E+JeH%7C%3Eeraen%2C+Modem+English+Grammar)
5. Mikkolaen, Dansk Ordfojningslcere, Kobonhavn 1911. Mistoli —» F. Miateli, Oharacteristik der hauptsdchl. Typen des Sprachbaus, Berlin 1802. MSL mm Mimoires de la Sociiti de Linguistique. Fr. MClller Or. = Friedrich MOller, Grundriss der Sprachwiesenschaft, Wien 1876. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Mikkolaen%2C+Dansk+Ordfojningslcere%2C+Kobonhavn+1911%2E+Mistoli+%E2%80%94%C2%BB+F%2E+Miateli%2C+Oharacteristik+der+hauptsdchl%2E+Typen+des+Sprachbaus%2C+Berlin+1802%2E+MSL+mm+Mimoires+de+la+Sociiti+de+Linguistique%2E+Fr%2E+MClller+O)
6. NED •— A New English Dictionary, by Murray, etc., Oxford 1884 ff. Nogation mm O. Jespersen, Negation in English and Other Languages, Kobenhavn 1917 (Videnskabomes selskab, Hast). Noroen VS .= A. Noreen, Vdrl Spnik, Lund 1903 ff. Nygaard NS ™ M. Nygaard, Norron Syntax, Kristiania 1906. Nyrop Or. «= Kr. Nyrop, Grammaire Historique de la Langue Frangaist, Copenhague 1914ff. OE mm Old English. OFr. mm Old French. OlIQ — Old High German. ON — Old Norse. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=NED+%E2%80%A2%E2%80%94+A+New+English+Dictionary%2C+by+Murray%2C+etc%2E%2C+Oxford+1884+ff%2E+Nogation+mm+O%2E+Jespersen%2C+Negation+in+English+and+Other+Languages%2C+Kobenhavn+1917+%28Videnskabomes+selskab%2C+Hast%29%2E+Noroen+VS+%2E%3D+A%2E+Noree)
7. Onions AS = C. T. Onions, An Advanced English Syntax, London 1904. Paul Or mm H. Paul, Deutsche Grammatik, Halle 1916 ff. P =» Prinzipien der Sprachgeschichte, 7te Aufl., Halle 1909. PBB —» (Paul und Braune), Beitrdge tur Geschichte der deutschen Spraehe. Pedersen GKS =■ H. Pedersen, Vergl Grammatik der keUischen Sprachen, Gottingen 1909. RG =» Russisk Grammatik, Kobenhavn 1916. PhG mm O. Jespersen, Phonetische Grundfragen, Leipzig 1904. Poutama Or — H. Poutsma, A Grammar of Late Modem English, Groningen 1904 ft. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Onions+AS+%3D+C%2E+T%2E+Onions%2C+An+Advanced+English+Syntax%2C+London+1904%2E+Paul+Or+mm+H%2E+Paul%2C+Deutsche+Grammatik%2C+Halle+1916+ff%2E+P+%3D%C2%BB+Prinzipien+der+Sprachgeschichte%2C+7te+Aufl%2E%2C+Halle+1909%2E+PBB+%E2%80%94%C2%BB+%28Paul+und+)
8. ABBREVIATIONS OF TITLES Schleicher NV — A. Schleioher, Nomen und Perbum, Leipzig 1865. Schuchardt Br = Hugo Schuchardt-Brevier, », L. Spitzer, Halle 1928. 8h. = Shakespeare. Sheffield GTh = A. D. Sheffield, Grammar and Thinking, New York 1912. Simonyi US*— S. Simonyi, Die Ungarieche Sprache, Straw*burg 1907. Sonnenschein = E. A. Sonnenaohein, A New English Grammar, Oxford 1921 f. Sp. ■= Spanish. Spr. L. = O. Jcspcrsen, Sprogett Logit, Kobenhavn 1913. Steinthal Charakteriatik *» H. Steinthal, Charakltrietik der hauptedeW. Typen dee Sprachbaues, Berlin 1860. Stout AP =G. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=ABBREVIATIONS+OF+TITLES+Schleicher+NV+%E2%80%94+A%2E+Schleioher%2C+Nomen+und+Perbum%2C+Leipzig+1865%2E+Schuchardt+Br+%3D+Hugo+Schuchardt%2DBrevier%2C+%C2%BB%2C+L%2E+Spitzer%2C+Halle+1928%2E+8h%2E+%3D+Shakespeare%2E+Sheffield+GTh+%3D+A%2E+D%2E+Shef)
9. F. Stout, Analytic Psychology, London 1902. Streitberg GE *= W. Streitberg, Gotiechee Elementarbuch, 6to Aufl., Heidel¬ berg 1920. Sweet CP = H. Sweet, Collected Papers, Oxford 1913. NEQ = A New Englieh Grammar, Oxford 1892, 1898. Tegnir G ==E. TegnAr, Om Genus i Svenekan, Stockholm 1892. TG =» The Terminology of Grammar, by the Joint Committee (1911), 7th impr. 1922. Tobler VG «=■ A. Toblor, Vermiechte Beitrdge tur Frontusischen Grammatik, 3te Aufl., Leipzig 1921. US = United States. Vendryes L = J. Vendryes, Le Langage, Paris 1921. Vg. = Vulgar. Vondr&k SG =» W. VondrAk, Vergleichende Slavische Grammatik, Gottingen 1906. Wackemagel VS = J. Wackemagel, Vorleeungen uber Syntax, Basel 1920. Wegener U — l’h. VVegenor, Untersuchungen tiber die Grundfragen its Spraclt-lebene. Hallo 1880. Western R = A. Western, Norsk BiksmAls-grammatikk, Kristiania 1921. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=F%2E+Stout%2C+Analytic+Psychology%2C+London+1902%2E+Streitberg+GE+%2A%3D+W%2E+Streitberg%2C+Gotiechee+Elementarbuch%2C+6to+Aufl%2E%2C+Heidel%C2%AC+berg+1920%2E+Sweet+CP+%3D+H%2E+Sweet%2C+Collected+Papers%2C+Oxford+1913%2E+NEQ+%3D+A+New+Engli)
10. Wilmanns DG W. Wilmanns, Deutsche Grammatik, Straasburg 1897 fl. Wundt S =» W. Wundt, Die Sprache, Leipzig 1900. [find](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=Wilmanns+DG+W%2E+Wilmanns%2C+Deutsche+Grammatik%2C+Straasburg+1897+fl%2E+Wundt+S+%3D%C2%BB+W%2E+Wundt%2C+Die+Sprache%2C+Leipzig+1900%2E)