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Author:   Frederick J. Newmeyer
Publisher:   MIT Press Ltd
Imprint:   MIT Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.20cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.930kg
ISBN:  

9780262140645

ISBN 10:   0262140640
Pages:   448
Publication Date:   08 December 1998
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

Part 1 The form-function problem in linguistics: setting the stage with a (not totally) imaginary dialogue; the goals of this book; the two orientations in modern linguistics; on the variety of generativist approaches; on the variety of functionalist approaches; a look ahead. Part 2 The boundaries of grammar: overview; the three autonomy hypotheses; the autonomy of syntax; the autonomy of knowledge of language with respect to use of language; the autonomy of grammar as a cognitive system; conclusion. Part 3 Internal and external explanation in linguistics: overview; on explanation in linguistics, internal and external; internal explanation; external explanation; convincing and unconvincing external explanations; the problem of competing motivations; external explanation and the autonomy of syntax; conclusion. Part 4 On syntactic categories: prototypes, fuzzy categories and grammatical theory; prototype theory and syntactic catagories; syntagmatic simplicity and prototypes - an evaluation; paradigmatic complexity and prototypes - an evaluation; prototypes and markedness; the nonexistence of fuzzy categories; against Langacker's notional definitions of noun and verb ; conclusion; appendix on prototype constructions. Part 5 Deconstructing grammaticalization: overview; grammaticalization - a capsule description; what is the true nature of grammaticalization?; the epiphenomenal nature of grammaticalization; on unidirectionality; two issues in grammaticalization research; grammaticalization and generative grammar; conclusion. Part 6 Language typology and its difficulties: overview; the field of language typology; barriers to language typology; what is to be done?; formal prerequisites to typological analysis; implicational hierarchies and a new argument for functionalism; typology and generative grammar; summary. Part 7 Conclusion.

Reviews

Newmeyer is surely the most authoritative and fairest voice urging formalist and functionalist linguists to attend to one another's work. This book makes a strong case that the two sides do have things to say to one another, and I hope each will heed Newmeyer's injunction to listen to the other. --Stephen R. Anderson, Yale University

"""Newmeyer is surely the most authoritative and fairest voice urgingformalist and functionalist linguists to attend to one another'swork. This book makes a strong case that the two sides do have thingsto say to one another, and I hope each will heed Newmeyer's injunctionto listen to the other."" Stephen R. Anderson , Yale University"

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