Levels’ Analysis: J. R. Firth’s Theories of Linguistic Analysis (Part II)

Abstract

It seems certain that all modern theories of linguistic analysis accept the existence of levels of analysis, at least the two levels of phonology and grammar. Firth’s theory shows nothing new in this, but it is radically different in its dismissal of the ascending hierarchy of phonology-morphology-syntax. In theories of ‘levels analysis’ the question of hierarchy usually arises, and London theory is not free from controversy on this, although Firth himself speaks of a hierachy of techniques which is a very different matter from a hierarchy of levels.