This book addresses a question fundamental to any discussion of grammatical theory and grammatical variation: to what extent can principles of grammar be explained through language use? John A. Hawkins argues that there is a profound correspondence between performance data and the fixed conventions of grammars. Preferences and patterns found in the one, he shows, are reflected in constraints and variation patterns in the other. The theoretical consequences of the proposed 'performance-grammar correspondence hypothesis' are far-reaching -- for current grammatical formalisms, for the innateness...
This book addresses a question fundamental to any discussion of grammatical theory and grammatical variation: to what extent can principles of grammar...
John Hawkins demonstrates a clear link between how languages are used and the conventions of their grammars. He sets out a theory in which performance shapes grammars and accounts for the variation patterns found in the world's languages. He backs this up with evidence from a wide array of languages. He also considers the profound consequences of this correspondence for explanations of language change and evolution, and for models of performance and acquisition. His book is of fundamental importance for linguistic theory.
John Hawkins demonstrates a clear link between how languages are used and the conventions of their grammars. He sets out a theory in which performance...
In this major new book, John A. Hawkins presents a new theory of linear ordering in syntax. He argues that processing can provide a simple, functional explanation for syntactic rules of ordering, as well as for the selection among ordering variants in languages and structures in which variation is possible. Insights from generative syntax, typological studies of language universals, and psycholinguistic studies of language processing are combined to show that there is a profound correspondence between performance and grammar.
In this major new book, John A. Hawkins presents a new theory of linear ordering in syntax. He argues that processing can provide a simple, functional...
This book addresses one of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about language: how can we explain language universals? There are currently many different views on this question. Some argue for the innateness of general linguistic principles within the human species. Others see a more social foundation to language, with linguistic structure reflecting various communicative functions.
This book addresses one of the most fundamental questions that can be asked about language: how can we explain language universals? There are currentl...
In this book John A. Hawkins argues that major patterns of variation across languages are structured by general principles of efficiency in language use and communication. Evidence for these comes from languages permitting structural options from which selections are made in performance, e.g. between competing word orders and between relative clauses with a resumptive pronoun versus a gap. The preferences and patterns of performance within languages are reflected, he shows, in the fixed conventions and variation patterns across grammars, leading to a 'Performance-Grammar Correspondence...
In this book John A. Hawkins argues that major patterns of variation across languages are structured by general principles of efficiency in language u...
In this book John A. Hawkins argues that major patterns of variation across languages are structured by general principles of efficiency in language use and communication. Evidence for these comes from languages permitting structural options from which selections are made in performance, e.g. between competing word orders and between relative clauses with a resumptive pronoun versus a gap. The preferences and patterns of performance within languages are reflected, he shows, in the fixed conventions and variation patterns across grammars, leading to a 'Performance-Grammar Correspondence...
In this book John A. Hawkins argues that major patterns of variation across languages are structured by general principles of efficiency in language u...
First published in 1986, this book draws together analyses of English and German. It defines the contrasts and similarities between the two languages and, in particular, looks at the question of whether contrasts in one area of the grammar is systematically related to contrasts in another, and whether there is any directionality or unity to contrast throughout grammar as a whole. It is suggested that there is, and that English and German can serve as a case study for a more general typology of languages than we now have.
This volume will be of interest to a wide range of linguists,...
First published in 1986, this book draws together analyses of English and German. It defines the contrasts and similarities between the two languag...
First published in 1988, this book is concerned with the definite and indefinite articles in English. It provides an integrated pragmatic-semantic theory of definite and indefinite reference, on the basis of which, many co-occurance restrictions between articles and non-modifiers are explained.
At the general theoretical level, this book looks at the role of semantics in the prediction of all and only the grammatical sentences of a language. A generalisation is proposed uniting semantic oppositions underlying ungrammaticality with syntactic oppositions between conditions of application...
First published in 1988, this book is concerned with the definite and indefinite articles in English. It provides an integrated pragmatic-semantic ...
First published in 1988, this book is concerned with the definite and indefinite articles in English. It provides an integrated pragmatic-semantic theory of definite and indefinite reference, on the basis of which, many co-occurance restrictions between articles and non-modifiers are explained.
At the general theoretical level, the book looks at the role of semantics in the prediction of all and only the grammatical sentences of a language. At a more particular level, it explores the nature of reference, examining an important selection of subjects such as the contrast between...
First published in 1988, this book is concerned with the definite and indefinite articles in English. It provides an integrated pragmatic-semantic ...
