Different perspectives on linguistic complexity

This chapter aims at providing an overview of linguistic complexity from different approaches with particular reference to Chomsky‘s transformational generative grammar, Givon‘s model of markedness and Halliday‘s functional grammar. Initially, deep structure and syntactic ambiguity from Chomsky‘s transformational generative grammar are discussed. Secondly, Givon‘s model of markedness is explained in relation to the marknedness status of clause types. Finally, the chapter discusses linguistic complexity in the light of functional grammar with a focus on four linguistic concepts, namely lexical density, grammatical metaphor, nominalisation and thematic structure.