An Introduction to Syntax

Reviews / Votes

Unlike most syntax textbooks, this one approaches the technicalities via a broad consideration of explanation illustrated from everyday life. The discussion presents the view of a leading scholar in the field, whose enthusiasm, wisdom and open-mindedness show through on every page. It draws from a wide range of languages and culminates in a splendid chapter about the ultimate explanatory force for syntax: function. This book, which contains a rich coverage of the various syntactic theories and how they accommodate conflicts, presents a substantial contribution to an understanding of the differences as well as the shared goals among these theories. In sum, An introduction to syntactic theory is highly recommended as a valuable resource for anyone learning or teaching syntax. [The] book is incredibly well organized, obviously the product of a very tidy mind. Each chapter opens with a chart of the numbered content and its pagination, in slightly greater detail than the listing of chapter contents in the introductory material. Then, before the chapter begins, there is an ingenious and intriguing quote that is fundamentally relevant to what is to come ([the] book is worth browsing just to digest these quotes!). Each chapter also ends with a relevant and welcome conclusion, followed by the notes and some exercises for the students when used as a course book. * The Canadian Journal of Linguistics *