Radical Construction Grammar: Syntactic Theory in Typological Perspective

ISBN-13: 9780198299554 / Angielski / Twarda / 2001 / 448 str.

William Croft

Opis

This book is based on the results of research in language typology, and motivated by the need for a theory to explain them. Croft proposes intimate links between syntactic and semantic structures, and argues that the basic elements of any language are not syntactic but rather syntactic-semantic "Gestalts." He puts forward a new approach to syntactic representation and a new model of how language and languages work.

Recenzje

This is a very important book. It gathers intra- and inter-linguistic evidence that point at the centrality and relativity of the notion of construction; it presents an in-depth discussion of grammatical relations thus revealing problematic hidden assumptions; it argues for universality on the basis of our common cognitive processes but also recognises the importance of language as a system capable of influencing grammatical codification; it shifts the focus of attention to the notion of function. Moreover, Croft weaves his ideas and critical analyses into a coherent picture that exposes the contradictory foundations of much of modern linguistic theory (viz. the circularity of syntactic argumentation). For all these reasons, Croft's book is a must-read for all those interested in grammatical theory and typology.

O autorze

William Croft received his Ph.D. in linguistics at Stanford University in 1986. His publications includeTypology and Universals (1990), Syntactic Categories and Grammatical Relations (1991), Studies in Typology and Diachrony (coedited with Keith Denning and Suzanne Kemmer, 1990), Explaining Language Change: An Evolutionary Approach (2000), and a large number of scholarly articles. His current research areas include syntax, semantics, typology, and historical linguistics. Forthcoming books include Cognitive Linguistics (with D. Alan Cruse) and Verbs: Aspect and Argument Structure.