Syntactic Theory in the High Middle Ages: Modistic Models of Sentence Structure

by Michael A. Covington

• ISBN13: 9780521109550
• ISBN10: 0521109558
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-04-03
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• More Book Details

Summary

In this study Michael Covington considers the origins and development of the theories of sentence structure formulated by the Modistae, a group of grammarians and logicians who flourished in Paris between about 1270 and 1310. Some of the concepts of the medieval theoretical framework, notably government and dependency, have survived to the present day, and Dr Covington introduces insights from modern grammatical theories where appropriate. Nevertheless his principal aim is not to compare medieval and modern theories, or to provide a comprehensive historical study. Rather, recognising that 'it is the difference as much as the similarity that makes the Modistae interesting', Dr Covington offers an original critical exegesis of these influential theories.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Before the Modistae

Modistic grammar

Syntactic structure

Modistic treatments of particular syntactic problems

Subsequent developments

Appendix

Notes

Bibliography

Indexes

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