A Critical Introduction to Syntax

This book introduces major areas of debate within the field of syntax: constructions, grammar and semantics, configurationality, usage-based grammar, complexity, language acquisition. It highlights the application of the same concepts across different models of grammar. Real examples from spoken and written language and standard and non-standard language demonstrate how difficult it is to apply the concept of grammaticality and to provide reliable analyses, especially for spoken language.Comprehensive, accessible and challenging, this book is essential reading for students taking introductory courses in syntax and syntactic theory, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level.>

List of contents

Introduction and Acknowledgments 1. Theory, Data and Analysis 2. Dependency Relations 3. Configurationality 4. Constructions 5. Grammaticality 6. Usage-based analysis 7. Grammar and Semantics: the get passive 8. Grammar and Semantics: wh words 9. Grammar and Semantics: parts-of-speech 10. Grammar and Semantics: thematic roles
11. Language Complexity 12. First Language Acquisition Epilogue Bibliography Index

Report

An exploration of the syntax of real language, both spoken and written, which unearths fascinating examples, showing just how different the two can be -- and how challenging they are for linguists of different persuasions. Greville Corbett, Distinguished Professor of Linguistics, University of Surrey, UK

Product details

• Authors: Jim Miller
• Assisted by: Andreas Musolff (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 13.01.2011
• EAN: 9780826497048
• ISBN: 978-0-8264-9704-8
• No. of pages: 288
• Series: Continuum Critical Introductions to Linguistics; Continuum Critical Introductio; Bloomsbury Critical Introductions to Linguistics; Continuum Critical Introductio; Bloomsbury Critical Introductions to Linguistics
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > English linguistics / literary studies