Syntax and Variation
Reconciling the Biological and the Social
Published on 22. June 2005
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-1-58811-640-6 (ISBN)
Description
The papers in this collection share a common interest in the empirical, theoretical and meta-theoretical aspects of the 'internal-external' ('formal-functional') debate in linguistic theory. The primary aim of this volume is to initiate cooperation between internationally renowned generative and variationist linguists with a view to developing an innovative and more cohesive approach to syntactic variation. The present volume contains treatments incorporating the analysis of external factors into accounts focusing on the internal linguistic conditioning of syntactic variation and change cross-linguistically. As such, it offers novel approaches to three key areas of current linguistic debate, viz. (1) Methodological practices, (2) Theoretical applications and (3) Modularity. The volume is, therefore, an important achievement for the progress of linguistic theory more generally and it is an even more crucial milestone in the coming-of-age of 'Socio-Syntax' as a discipline in its own right.
Reviews / Votes
This vital collection launches a badly needed venture into largely uncharted linguistic terrain. It should be read by every researcher concerned with bridging the gap between sociolinguistic and biolinguistic approaches to variation in syntax. [...] It ought to be a catalyst for direct exchange and debate between variationists and theorists. -- Jeffrey K. Parrott, Georgetown UniversityMore details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 245 mm
Width: 164 mm
Weight
730 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-58811-640-6 (9781588116406)
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Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Content
1. Toward an integrated approach to syntactic variation: A retrospective and prospective synopsis (by Cornips, Leonie); 2. Part 1: Aspects of modularity; 3. A modular approach to sociolinguistic variation in syntax: The gerund in Ecuadorian Spanish (by Muysken, Pieter); 4. Selective optionality in language development (by Sorace, Antonella); 5. Syntactic variation and spoken language (by Cheshire, Jenny); 6. Part 2: Individual speaker variability and methodological innovation; 7. Idiolectal variation and syntactic theory (by Henry, Alison); 8. Focus raising: A paradigmatic example of the treatment of syntactic variation (by Gervain, Judit); 9. Part 3: Syntactic variability, social stratification and real/apparent time; 10. Variation and the minimalist program (by Adger, David); 11. Principles and parameters in change (by Gelderen, Elly van); 12. Morphosyntactic variation and theory: Subject-verb agreement in Acadian French (by King, Ruth); 13. Part 4: Syntactic variability across geographical space; 14. Word order variation in three-verb clusters and the division of labour between generative linguistics and sociolinguistics (by Barbiers, Sjef); 15. The third dimension of person features (by Beninca, Paola); 16. Index