Syntactic Heads and Word Formation

In this title, Marit Julien investigates the relationship between morphology and syntax. She examines the formation of morphologically complex words - that is, the mechanisms of grammar that may cause two or more of the simplest elements of language, or morphemes, to be combined into a single word. Combining complex theoretical analysis with extensive empirical coverage, she presents the controversial thesis that there is no morphological component, separate from the syntax, which performs the task of assembling morphemes into words. This comprehensive survey is unusual in its deployment of the best of two separate traditions in generative syntax and typology, and her discussion is buttressed by an analysis of over 500 languages. This latest addition to the "Comparative Syntax" series should set a new standard for syntactic work and should prove useful to a wide range of professional linguists.