
Grammar & Complexity
Language at the Intersection of Competence and Performance
Peter W. Culicover(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 4. April 2013
Book
Hardback
336 pages
978-0-19-965459-8 (ISBN)
Description
This book combines ideas about the architecture of grammar and language acquisition, processing, and change to explain why languages show regular patterns when there is so much irregularity in their use and so much complexity when there is such regularity in linguistic phenomena. Peter Culicover argues that the structure of language can be understood and explained in terms of two kinds of complexity: firstly that of the correspondence between form and meaning; secondly in the real-time processes involved in the construction of meanings in linguistic expressions.
Mainstream syntactic theory has focused largely on regularities within and across languages, relegating to the periphery exceptional and idiosyncratic phenomena. But, the author argues, a languages irregular and unique features offer fundamental insights into the nature of language, how it changes, and how it is produced and understood.
Peter Culicover's new book offers a pertinent and original contribution to key current debates in linguistic theory. It will interest scholars and advanced students of linguists of all theoretical persuasions.
Mainstream syntactic theory has focused largely on regularities within and across languages, relegating to the periphery exceptional and idiosyncratic phenomena. But, the author argues, a languages irregular and unique features offer fundamental insights into the nature of language, how it changes, and how it is produced and understood.
Peter Culicover's new book offers a pertinent and original contribution to key current debates in linguistic theory. It will interest scholars and advanced students of linguists of all theoretical persuasions.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
Figures, Line Drawings
Dimensions
Height: 250 mm
Width: 175 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
747 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-965459-8 (9780199654598)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
03/2013
Oxford University Press
€77.60
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
03/2013
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€40.99
Available for download
Person
Peter W. Culicover is Humanities Distinguished Professor in Linguistics and the founding Director of the Center for Cognitive Science at the Ohio State University. His publications include Formal Principles of Language Acquisition co-authored with Kenneth Wexler (MIT 1983), Principles and Parameters (OUP 1997), Syntactic Nuts (OUP 1999), Dynamical Syntax co-authored with Andrzej Nowak (OUP 2003), Simpler Syntax co-authored with Ray Jackendoff (OUP 2005), and Natural Language Syntax (OUP 2009).
Content
PART I: THEORETICAL BACKGROUND; PART II: ENGLISH CONSTRUCTIONS; PART III: PROCESSING COMPLEXITY AND GRAMMAR; PART IV: ACQUISITION, CHANGE, AND VARIATION