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Informationen zum Autor Peter Matthews is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics and Fellow of St John's College, University of Cambridge. Klappentext Accounts of syntax are usually based on two assumptions: firstly, that a sentence comprises a hierarchy of phrases, forming a 'tree' structure; and secondly, that phrases have 'heads', on which subordinate units depend. These fundamental assumptions are questioned in this critical new survey, which argues that neither concept is important as is claimed, and that syntactic relations are in fact far more varied. Drawing on data from English as well as other major European languages, it summarizes earlier accounts of syntactic structure and looks at the different ways in which specific constructions have been described - the subject of much disagreement between linguists. It explores the problems faced by particular analyses, and raises the question of whether syntax should be made simpler than it is. Suitable for non-specialists and complete with a clear and useful glossary, Syntactic Relations will become an essential and thought-provoking read for students and researchers in linguistic theory. Zusammenfassung This critical survey questions two fundamental assumptions in syntactic theory: firstly! that a sentence comprises a hierarchy of phrases! forming a 'tree' structure; and secondly! that phrases have 'heads'! on which subordinate units depend. An essential and thought-provoking read for students! researchers in linguistic theory as well as non-specialists. Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. What beginners are told; 3. Heads and dependents; 4. Must phrases have heads?; 5. Asymmetries; 6. Constituents; 7. Must constructions reduce to tree structures?; 8. Simplicity; Glossary; References; Index.
