To whom is the concept of transformational grammar credited?

The concept of transformational grammar is credited to Noam Chomsky, who introduced this influential theory in the 1950s. Chomsky's transformational grammar revolutionized the field of linguistics by providing a systematic way to understand the structure of sentences and the underlying syntax of language. In this framework, he posited that language consists of a set of rules that can transform a basic structure, or deep structure, into various surface structures, or different forms of sentences. This theory emphasized the innate aspects of language acquisition, proposing that humans possess an inherent ability to learn language.

Chomsky's work laid the foundation for many subsequent theories and research in linguistics, language development, and cognitive science, making his contributions foundational and highly influential in understanding how humans process and produce language. The other figures mentioned, while significant in the field of linguistics and language acquisition, are not associated with the establishment of transformational grammar as Chomsky is.