Objects and Information Structure

A cross-linguistic study of how objects are affected by information structure.

List of contents

1. Introduction; 2. Syntactic assumptions; 3. Information structure in grammar; 4. Syntax and information structure; 5. Topicality and grammatical marking; 6. Topical marking of nonsubjects; 7. Topicality and DOM; 8. Primary and secondary objecthood and DOM; 9. Multiple objects and grammatical alignment; 10. Semantic features, topicality and grammaticalisation; 11. Conclusion.

About the author

Mary Dalrymple is Professor of Syntax in the Faculty of Linguistics, Philology and Phonetics at the University of Oxford.Irina Nikolaeva is a Lecturer in Endangered Languages in the Department of Linguistics at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Summary

In many languages, the objects of transitive verbs are either marked by grammatical case or agreement on the verb, or they remain unmarked. This book is a cross-linguistic study of how object marking is affected by information structure, the grammatical structuring of the utterance in accordance with context.

Product details

• Authors: Mary Dalrymple, Mary (Professor of Syntax Dalrymple, Mary Nikolaeva Dalrymple, Dalrymple Mary, Irina Nikolaeva, Irina (University of London) Nikolaeva, Nikolaeva Irina
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 19.06.2014
• EAN: 9781107627376
• ISBN: 978-1-107-62737-6
• No. of pages: 262
• Series: Cambridge Studies in Linguistics; Cambridge Studies in Linguisti; Cambridge Studies in Linguistics
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > Other languages / Other literatures; LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / General, Grammar, syntax & morphology, Grammar, syntax and morphology, Semantics, discourse analysis, stylistics, Semantics, discourse analysis, etc