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Noam Chomsky developed a theory of Generative Grammar during the 1950s and later. Before Chomsky Grammar had only described language - which is useful for learning a language, but tells you nothing how about language works inside the mind.

Chomsky's Generative Grammar gave scientists ideas about how humans create language - and therefore how we think.

Most of Chomsky's ideas have proved to be generally correct, and a new science - Cognitive Science - has grown up from Chomskyan theories. Computer scientists also found Chomsky's ideas about language structure useful, and computer languages based on Chomskyan principles (Pascal, C#, Prolog) are much more powerful than the older pre-Chomskyan languages (Fortran).

A good introduction to Chomskyan language analysis techniques can be found in Stephen Pinker's books - especially 'The Language Instinct'.

Chomsky is probably the most important grammarian since Quintilian (in Roman times) and may be one of the 20th Century's most important theoretical scientists.

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