Modern linguistics has seen the arrival of many different views on language. Starting with Noam Chomsky, undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in recent linguistics, new theories and ideas have been introduced at a rapid pace. Partly because of his status as a revitalizer in the field, but also because of his often controversial theories, Chomsky maintains a place at the center of this discussion. His search for a universal grammar and critique of pure descriptivism have informed generations of research. Much of this was reactionary to him, but his influence cannot be ignored. His theories about a universal grammar have inspired writers on both sides of the debate. Paul Hopper opposes this view, contrasting his emerging grammar. Dell Hymes writes next, arguing that he attempts to transcend the traditional concept of grammars altogether. Because of the influence Chomsky had, it can be illuminating to trace the development of modern linguistics through his criticism of it. Before examining Chomsky's theories, it is useful to consider the prevailing academic view of linguistics before his writings, descriptivism. The aim of descriptive linguistics is to describe, in great detail, every aspect of a given language. This description occurs at many levels: at the phonemic level, at the morphemic level, at the syntactic level, and occasionally beyond. Therefore, they classify the sounds of a language and the meaning of those sounds. What differentiates descriptivists from many subsequent schools of thought is that this is where descriptivists stop. They do not pursue a more general theory of language that goes beyond the individual basis; English is distinct from Chinese, and while the next research...... half of the article...... Chomsky. By reading these arguments in light of Chomsky's position, we can not only gain a better understanding of his work and influence, but also the entire linguistic landscape, as well as the implications of each author's work. Despite their sometimes reactionary views, common themes emerge in many of the essays. The truth may lie somewhere in these commonalities, or one side may be confirmed, but Chomsky's impact can be seen either way. Works Cited Chomsky, Noam. "The Current Scene in Linguistics: Current Directions". College English 27.8 (1966): 587-595. Print.Hopper, Paul. “Emergent grammar”. Berkeley Linguistics Society 13 (1987): Print.Hymes, Dell. "Ways of speaking." Explorations in the ethnography of language (studies on the social and cultural foundations of language). 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1989. 433-451. Press.