Universal Grammar and Iconicity
Published on 19. January 2022
330 pages
978-1-108-88894-3 (ISBN)
Description
Within linguistics, the formal and functional approaches each offer insight into what language might be and how it operates, but so far, there have been hardly any systematic attempts to integrate them into a single theory. This book explores the relationship between universal grammar - the theory that we have an innate mechanism for generating sentences - and iconicity - the resemblance between form and meaning in language. It offers a new theory of their interactions, 'UG-iconicity interface' (UG-I), which shows that not only do universal grammar and iconicity coexist, but in fact collaborate in intricate and predictable ways. The theory explains various recalcitrant cross-linguistic facts surrounding the serial verb constructions, coordination, semantically and categorically obscure 'linkers', the multiple grammatical aspects of the external argument, and non-canonical arguments. This groundbreaking work is essential reading for researchers and postgraduate students in linguistics, as well as scholars in psychology and cognitive science.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
File size
4,56 MB
ISBN-13
978-1-108-88894-3 (9781108888943)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Yafei Li
Universal Grammar and Iconicity
Book
08/2024
Cambridge University Press
€36.10
Shipment within 15-20 days
Yafei Li
Universal Grammar and Iconicity
Book
02/2022
Cambridge University Press
€141.10
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Content
1. An Interface Theory of Universal Grammar and Iconicity; 2. The Serial Verb Constructions; 3. The Connectors; 4. From the External Argument Onward; 5. Meta-Theoretical Reflections.
