Understanding Syntax

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Linguistics
Cover of the book Understanding Syntax by Maggie Tallerman, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Maggie Tallerman ISBN: 9781317635109
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: November 13, 2014
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Maggie Tallerman
ISBN: 9781317635109
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: November 13, 2014
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Assuming no prior knowledge, Understanding Syntax illustrates the major concepts, categories and terminology associated with the study of cross-linguistic syntax. A theory-neutral and descriptive viewpoint is taken throughout. Starting with an overview of what syntax is, the book moves on to an explanation of word classes (such as noun, verb, adjective) and then to a discussion of sentence structure in the world’s languages. Grammatical constructions and relationships between words in a clause are explained and thoroughly illustrated, including grammatical relations such as subject and object; function-changing processes such as the passive and antipassive; case and agreement processes, including both ergative and accusative alignments; verb serialization; head-marking and dependent-marking grammars; configurational and non-configurational languages; questions and relative clauses. The final chapter explains and illustrates the principles involved in writing a brief syntactic sketch of a language, enabling the reader to construct a grammatical sketch of a language known to them. Data from approximately 100 languages appears in the text, with languages representing widely differing geographical areas and distinct language families. The book will be essential for courses in cross-linguistic syntax, language typology, and linguistic fieldwork, as well as for basic syntactic description.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Assuming no prior knowledge, Understanding Syntax illustrates the major concepts, categories and terminology associated with the study of cross-linguistic syntax. A theory-neutral and descriptive viewpoint is taken throughout. Starting with an overview of what syntax is, the book moves on to an explanation of word classes (such as noun, verb, adjective) and then to a discussion of sentence structure in the world’s languages. Grammatical constructions and relationships between words in a clause are explained and thoroughly illustrated, including grammatical relations such as subject and object; function-changing processes such as the passive and antipassive; case and agreement processes, including both ergative and accusative alignments; verb serialization; head-marking and dependent-marking grammars; configurational and non-configurational languages; questions and relative clauses. The final chapter explains and illustrates the principles involved in writing a brief syntactic sketch of a language, enabling the reader to construct a grammatical sketch of a language known to them. Data from approximately 100 languages appears in the text, with languages representing widely differing geographical areas and distinct language families. The book will be essential for courses in cross-linguistic syntax, language typology, and linguistic fieldwork, as well as for basic syntactic description.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book The White Racial Frame by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book The Middle Ages by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book The Government of Space (Routledge Revivals) by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book English as a Lingua Franca by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Education for Sustainability by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Railway Reading and Late-Victorian Literary Series by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Quantitative Economic History by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Dictionary of Modern Colloquial French by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book The Voyage of François Leguat of Bresse to Rodriguez, Mauritius, Java, and the Cape of Good Hope by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Life and Work in Modern Europe by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Regenerating the Curriculum by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Fifty Key Figures in Science Fiction by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book The New Development Politics by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book Exploring Climate Change through Science and in Society by Maggie Tallerman
Cover of the book The Reformed Objection to Natural Theology by Maggie Tallerman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy