permutation (n.)

A term often used within the framework of TRANSFORMATIONAL GRAMMAR to refer to a basic kind of transformational operation. ‘Permutation transformations’ have the effect of moving CONSTITUENTS (usually one at a time) from one part of a PHRASE-MARKER to another, as in the formation of PASSIVE SENTENCES. An alternative term is MOVEMENT or REORDERING. In some approaches this notion is broken down into the more basic operations of ADJUNCTION and SUBSTITUTION.