English term
in full operation
I have a problem to understand a phrase "in full operation" in the context given by W. Francis (1954). Here I give an excerpt:
"The second meaning of "grammar"- call it "Grammar2 "- is “the branch of linguistic science which is concerned with the description, analysis, and formulization of formal language patterns." Just as gravity was in full operation before Newton's apple fell, so grammar in the first sense was in full operation before anyone formulated the first rule that began the history of grammar as a study."
What exactly does it mean?
| 5 +1 | Active and working |
acetran
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| 4 +3 | existed and was used before it was formulated |
Jack Doughty
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PRO (1): Natalia Volkova
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Responses
Active and working
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
existed and was used before it was formulated
| agree |
Natalia Volkova
31 mins
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Václav Pinkava
3 hrs
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Arabic & More
4 hrs
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Thank you
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| neutral |
B D Finch
: As applied to grammar, yes. However, not "used" here as it is being applied to "gravity", which gives the phrase a slightly sardonic twist.
19 hrs
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