Intransitive Predication

Leon Stassen makes a major contribution to the study of language typology with Intransitive Predication. Basing his analysis on a sample of 410 languages, he presents a universally applicable model for defining the domain of intransitive predication in natural languages. Intransitive predicates are defined in terms of four domains: events (Sarah is walking), classes (Sarah is a secretary), properties (Sarah is tall), and locations
(Sarah is in the garden).

Summary

Intransitive Predication constitutes a major contribution to the study of typological linguistics and theoretical linguistics in general. Basing his analysis on a sample of 410 languages, Leon Stassen investigates cross-linguistic variation in one of the core domains of all natural languages.

The author views this domain as a `cognitive space', the topography of which is the same for all languages. It is assumed to consist of four subdomains, which correspond to a four-way distinction between the semantic classes of event predicates, property predicates, class predicates, and locational predicates. Leon Stassen offers a typology of the structural manifestations of this domain, in terms of the nature and number of the formal strategies used in its encoding. He discusses a number of abstract principles which can be employed in explaining the cross-linguistic variation embodied by the typology. In the final chapter, he brings together the research results in a universally applicable model, which can be read as a `flow chart' for the encoding of intransitive predications in different language types.

Additional text

The book is long, but readers will find the effort well worthwhile ... It is difficult to do justice in a review to a book of this magnitude. The book provides a valuable set of data and convincing arguments to support the typology proposed ... A value of the book is that the proposed typology provides a solid foundation for future empirical investigation. The book is the second in a series on typology. I hope that subsequent volumes in the series will be of such a high quality.

Product details

• Authors: Leon Stassen, Leon (Senior Lecturer Stassen, Stassen Leon
• Publisher: Oxford Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 11.09.1997
• EAN: 9780198236931
• ISBN: 978-0-19-823693-1
• Dimensions: 165 mm x 244 mm x 48 mm
• Weight: 1335 g
• Illustrations: line illustrations
• Series: Oxford Studies in Typology and Linguistic Theory; Oxford Studies in Typology and; Oxford Studies in Typology and Linguistic Theory; Oxford Studies in Typology and
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Semantics, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Grammar & Punctuation, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Syntax, Grammar, syntax & morphology, Historical & comparative linguistics, Grammar, syntax and morphology, Semantics, discourse analysis, stylistics, Historical and comparative linguistics, Semantics, discourse analysis, etc