Syntax: A Linguistic Introduction to Sentence Structure

by Brown; Keith

• ISBN13: 9780415084215
• ISBN10: 0415084210
• eBook ISBN(s): 9781000158748
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 1992-02-13
• Publisher: Routledge
• More Book Details

Summary

An understanding of syntax is fundamental to the study of linguistics and language; syntax, however, is often taught solely within the framework of transformational grammar. Hence, this book is unique in introducing the basic concepts used in the description of syntax independently of any single model of grammar. Keith Brown and Jim Miller argue that an understanding of the concepts used in any full description of language is crucial for assessing the strengths and weaknesses of formal grammars. Formal approaches to some of these concepts are critically examined. Their book deals with the whole of syntax--from immediate constituents and relations between sentences--and examines concepts such as "subject" and "object," "agent" and "patient," "topic," and "comment" and "theme." They include a section on morphology and a discussion of its relationship to syntax. AsSyntaxincludes graded exercises which can be taught either in class or used independently, the volume is designed totrain students of either linguistics or language to understand and make the best use of any grammar they encounter.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Constituent Structure

Constituent Structure

Form Classes Constituent Structure

Grammar Some Verb Classes in English Formal Grammars

Optional and Obligatory Constituents

Selection Restrictions

Relations between Sentences Embedding and Recursion

The Sentence

Morphology Words and Morphemes

Morphemes and Morphs

The Analysis of Words

The Order of Morphs and the Order of Morphemes Lexical

Morphology Form Classes and Grammatical Categories

Functional Relations

Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic

Relations in Syntax Processes and Participants Subjects, Objects, Complements and Adjuncts Theme, Rheme and End Focus

Topic and Comment

Given and new Postscript

Further Reading

References

Index

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