Introduction To Syntax, An: Fundamentals Of Syntactic Analysis

This comprehensive introduction presents the basic goals and tools of syntactic analysis. The conceptual framework is theory-neutral, presenting a scientific introduction to the field. The chapters in the first half of the book present a detailed introduction to synchronic description. The second half of the book examines variation and change, syntactic typology, and language acquisition, and possible explanations from structural, evolutionary and functional perspectives. Review: ''Unlike most syntax textbooks, this one approaches the technicalities via a broad consideration of explanation illustrated from everyday life. The discussion presents the view of a leading scholar in the field, whose enthusiasm, wisdom and open-mindedness show through on every page. It draws from a wide range of languages and culminates in a splendid chapter about 'the ultimate explanatory force for syntax: function.' Richard A. Hudson, Emeritus Professor, University College London.' Table of Contents: PREFACE; PART I. INTRODUCTION; CHAPTER 1. WHAT IS SYNTAX?; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Studying the world; 3. Studying language; 4. Why syntax?; 5. Conclusions; NOTES. QUESTIONS; PART II. SYNTACTIC DESCRIPTION; CHAPTER 2. LINEAR ORDER; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Temporal relations: some possibilities; 3. Temporal relations of words: some facts; 4. Conclusions; NOTES; QUESTIONS; CHAPTER 3. SELECTION; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Selection: some possibilities; 3. Selection in syntax: some facts; 4. Conclusions; NOTES; QUESTIONS; CHAPTER 4. CATEGORIES; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Partonomy and taxonomy: some possibilities; 3. Partonomy and taxonomy in syntax: some facts; 4. Conclusions; NOTES; QUESTIONS; CHAPTER 5. SYNTAX, MEANING, AND SOUND FORM; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Symbolic equivalence: some possibilities; 3. Symbolic equivalence in syntax: some facts; 4. Conclusions; NOTES; QUESTIONS; CHAPTER 6. VARIATION AND CHANGE; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Variation and change: some possibilities; 3. Syntactic variation; 4. Syntactic change; 5. Conclusions; NOTES; QUESTIONS; PART III. CONCLUSION; CHAPTER 7. EXPLAINING SYNTAX; 1. Preliminaries; 2. Structural explanations; 3. Evolutionary explanations; 4. Functional Explanations; 5. Conclusions; NOTES; QUESTIONS; GLOSSARY; REFERENCES. Author Biography: Dr Edith A. Moravcsik is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.